April 12-15, 2018 Marfa Myths
Thank You! 
Thank You! 
Thank You! 
Thank You! 
Thank You! 
Thank You! 
Thank You! 
Thank You! 
Marfa Myths is an annual music festival and multidisciplinary cultural program founded in 2014 by nonprofit contemporary arts foundation Ballroom Marfa and Brooklyn-based music label Mexican Summer. With Marfa Myths, our organizations bring together a diversity of emerging and established artists and musicians to work creatively and collaboratively across music, film, and visual arts contexts. The festival is inherently embedded in the landscape of Far West Texas, and deeply engaged with Marfa’s cultural history and present-day community.

Schedule

  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday
11am
12pm
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
9pm
10pm
11pm

4 – 6pm: Official Marfa Myths zine launch – Free

6 – 8pm: Anthology Editions presents Imaginary Concerts with Peter Coffin at Marfa Studio of Arts – Free

7:30pm: Terry Allen and The Weather Station at Marfa Visitor Center – $10

10:30pm: Hello I’m Dolly: Best Little Drag Show in Texas at Marfa Visitor Center – Free

11am
12pm
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
9pm
10pm
11pm

11am – 1pm: Judd Foundation will host Open Hours at La Mansana de Chinati / The Block, visits are self-guided – Free
 

11am – 1pm: Chinati Foundation hosts open hours of Donald Judd’s Untitled (U Channel and V Channel) works at the Ice Plant – Free
 

12 – 1pm: Open Studio w/ Chinati Foundation artist in residence Magalie Guerin at the Locker Plant – Free

1:30pm: Jessica Pratt and Ryley Walker at The Capri – $25

4:00pm: Kelsey Lu at Marfa Visitor Center – All Access holders guaranteed entry, limited walkups may be available

6pm: Hyperobjects opening reception with Laraaji with Arji Oceananda and Visible Cloaks at Ballroom Marfa – Free

9pm: Afterparty with Innov Gnawa and Omar-S at El Cosmico – $15

11am
12pm
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
9pm
10pm
11pm

11am: Walkthrough of Hyperobjects with Timothy Morton, Laura Copelin, and select artists at Ballroom Marfa – Free

12pm: Suzanne Ciani performing in the Arena, presented in partnership with The Chinati Foundation – Free

3pm: Tom Zé and Helado Negro with Ensemble at Saint George Hall – $35

4 – 6pm: Jesse Moretti opening reception at Ashley Rowe – Free

5pm: Drugdealer at Lost Horse – Free

6pm: Reverberation Radio DJ Set at Bar Nadar Pool + Grill – Free

6:30pm Wire, Amen Dunes, and Circuit Des Yeux (with surprise performances) at The Capri  – $50

11pm: Afterparty with Equiknoxx – All Access holders guaranteed entry. Entry also included with admission to 6:30pm Capri show or $15 after 11

11am
12pm
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
9pm
10pm
11pm

12pm: Thor & Friends at Building 98 – Free

3pm: Gravity Hill Sound + Image and the Allah-Las performing live score to Self Discovery for Social Survival at the Crowley
 

The Adventures of NASASA (2015), New Moon Night (2016) Short films by Ian Lewis
 

Marfa Mystery Channel shorts
 

– All Access holders guaranteed entry, limited walkups may be available

ALL WEEKEND

 
Jesse Moretti exhibition at Ashley Rowe
 
Anthology Editions presents Imaginary Concerts with Peter Coffin at Marfa Studio of Arts
 
Happy hours and special guests with GEM&BOLT Mezcal at Wrong Marfa
Friday – Sunday 12-6pm
 
Extended selection of Yoga offerings at The Well
 
Alpha Flight IV featuring works by Sam Anderson, Jeronimo Elspe, and Tamar Halpern at Pure Joy

For all of your Marfa Myths needs (maps, swag, a cold beer or Topo Chico), visit Happy Headquarters at 10am – 5pm, Friday – Sunday

Line-up

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Kelsey Lu left home at 18 to study cello. Now based in Los Angeles, Lu is currently working on the follow-up to her debut EP, Church, which was released in 2016 on True Panther Sounds and recorded live in Brooklyn's Holy Roman Catholic Church. She has collaborated with peers including Blood Orange, Kelela, Wet and Organized Noize; and shared stages with artists including Florence + the Machine, Jamie xx, Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Grimes, Kamasi Washington, Sampha and more.
Link
L.A. artist Michael Collins recorded under the monikers Run DMT and Salvia Plath before making the change to Drugdealer, mirroring a change in musical direction as well. 2016’s The End of Comedy takes inspiration from early ’70s soft rock and features an array of guests including fellow Mexican Summer musician Ariel Pink and alumna Weyes Blood. 
Link
After releasing an album under his own name, Damon McMahon spent the fall of 2006 in a secluded trailer in the Catskills, recording songs he would share with a few friends and shelve for three years. These recordings were unearthed and released to critical acclaim in 2009, launching the celestial folk project Amen Dunes. Out March 30, Freedom sees McMahon reflecting on growing up alongside a powerful set of collaborators and friends.
Link
Equiknoxx is the Jamaican music collective of Gavsborg, Time Cow, Shanique Marie, Bobby Blackbird, Kemikal Splash, and other contributors. Colón Man, their breakthrough 2017 album, acknowledges "the vital groundwork of previous generations of producers, whilst soundly contextualizing their mutant new advancements of Jamaican dancehall.” Marfa Myths marks one of the first US appearances for Equiknoxx.
Link
Spencer Doran and Ryan Carlile comprise this Portland-based duo, which fluidly combines global ambient, minimalist, and Fourth World influences with new advances in computer music. Their 2017 album, Reassemblage, summons an exploration of the consciousness with both silence and sound. Visible Cloaks make their Texas debut at Marfa Myths.
Link
A pioneer of electronic music, Suzanne Ciani is a synthesist, composer, and sound designer. Named the “first female synth hero,” her work has ranged from composing the soundtrack to The Incredible Shrinking Woman to creating the iconic sound of a Coca-Cola bottle opening and pouring. Ciani will perform a special quadraphonic sound set for Marfa Myths 2018.
Link

Chicago-based vocalist, composer, and producer Haley Fohr has released four full-length albums under the stage name Circuit des Yeux. With a four-octave range and deep reflections of the world, her most recent album, Reaching for Indigo, reaches new heights in human physicality through music.

Link

Wire’s commitment to creating conceptual music that is constantly evolving has served their 40-year career well, setting them apart from the traditions of their peers. Having recently released their fifteenth studio album, Silver / Lead, they refuse to settle for nostalgia, and push towards a unique 21st century psychedelic post punk sound.

Link
Jessica Pratt is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who marries folk, psychedelic, and electronic music with her mesmerizing voice. Her most recent album, On Your Own Love Again, straddles fantasy and reality, creating a world of sound all her own. 
Link
The songwriter, composer, and instrumentalist Tom Zé was integral to the Tropicália movement in the 1960s, and is highly regarded as an innovator of Brazilian music and beyond. One of Brazil’s most sampled artists, Zé’s influence is detectable in decades of music that has followed in his footsteps.
Link
With lyrics that flow between English and Spanish, Robert Carlos Lange’s American upbringing and Ecuadorian heritage resonate through his music. Adding aspects of the avant-garde and pop to his rhythms, loops, and melodies, he redefines the music landscape through his work with video, sculpture, sound, and performance. For Marfa Myths, Lange will be joined by a full ensemble to perform songs from Private Energy, Helado Negro’s breakthrough album 2016 / 2017 album.
Link
Gravity Hill is a film and music collective comprised of Jem Cohen, Guy Picciotto, Jim White, George Xylouris, and Jessica Moss. Established by Cohen in 2014, Gravity Hill is a forum for exploring film punctuated by live soundtracks. The collective’s Marfa Myths 2018 appearance will incorporate all new footage filmed in Far West Texas, and a score inspired by the alien terrain.
Link
Omar-S is creating the future of Detroit electronic and dance music by stripping down sound in an homage to the past. Dubbed by Omar-S as “Motown Minimal,” his adventurous albums have received critical acclaim, and on his own terms.
Link

Named for gnawa, the ritual trance music of Black Moroccan communities, Innov Gnawa, the New York-based collective helmed by Hassan Ben Jaafer, a Maâlem (master gnawa musician), makes their Marfa Myths debut in 2018. Played on a variety of unique instruments, the music remains utterly singular, with Innov Gnawa adding contemporary influences including African and Latin American percussion.

Link
The singer-songwriter and guitarist from Chicago creates the type of music you would expect from woodland animals. The self-professed “reincarnation of the true American guitar player,” Ryley Walker has followed the footsteps and long roads of those pioneering new sounds of folk.
Link
Los Angeles band Allah-Las draws on California’s rich culture to form a sound that is the perfect blend of the Golden States’ sand, seas, cities, and streets. Their most recent release, Covers #1, is the first in a series of EPs to explore songs near and dear to the band. Allah-Las will live soundtrack a portion of the upcoming Mexican Summer surf documentary, Self Discovery for Social Survival, for their Marfa Myths 2018 appearance.  
Link
Tamara Lindeman fronts this Toronto-based folk band, noted for its delicate verses punctuated by double meanings, metaphors and ambiguities. Their most recent self-titled album is a work of profound urgency, joy, and artistic generosity.    
Link
A true Renaissance man, Terry Allen straddles the worlds of country music and visual art, producing masterpieces in both disciplines that refuse definition. Noted for the stunning late-’70s albums Juarez and Lubbock (On Everything), Allen is often cited as the originator of alt-country, and counts Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, and Sturgill Simpson among revered fans.
Link
Laraaji is a multi-instrumentalist whose free flowing compositions for piano, zither, and mibra have lifted his music to the higher echelons of ambient music for four decades. Together with frequent collaborator and sound healing musician Arji, the duo will create an uplifting and enchanting sound performance that combines electric zither, voice, ambient tones, and more.
Link
Started by Thor Harris as a way to experiment with an array of Austin-based musicians, Thor & Friends’ constantly shifting sound is rooted in American minimalism. The resulting music is a greeting and ode to Harris’ various music studies and communities, ranging from minimalist to maximalist, and trio to ensemble settings. Thor & Friends will perform a special Sunday morning meditation for Marfa Myths 2018.
Link

Tickets

CLOSE

Option 1

ALL ACCESS
bundle passes

Early Bird Access

All Access

Option 2

Individual ticket
selections

THURSDAY

• THE WEATHER STATION / TERRY ALLEN – $10

FRIDAY

• JESSICA PRATT / RYLEY WALKER – $25

• INNOV GNAWA / OMAR-S – $15

SATURDAY

• HELADO NEGRO WITH ENSEMBLE / TOM Zé – $35

• CIRCUIT DES YEUX, WIRE, AMEN DUNES PLUS SURPRISE PERFORMANCES – $50

SUNDAY

• GRAVITY HILL SOUND + IMAGE / ALLAH-LAS – SOLD OUT (LIMITED WALKUPS MAY BE AVAILABLE)

Artist In Residence

Jesse Moretti

Jesse Moretti uses illusionistic techniques to play with the space between flatness and dimensionality in her vibrant, geometric abstractions. Large strokes, saturated gradients, and hard edges characterize Moretti’s paintings, prints, and sculptures. She draws on aesthetics associated with op art, graphic design, and digital manipulation tools. According to Moretti, her cast of floating, colliding forms reference “architecture, landscape, design and myth, reimagining them to become something other,” as she has said. “I am interested in how historical references may collapse into the present and create a proposition towards an alternate conception of cultural objects.” Website

Myths 003

For the third Marfa Myths release, we’re proud to present seven all-new songs written and recorded by Stockholm’s psychedelic masters Dungen and adventurous Brooklyn indie-folk pioneers Woods.

As the Marfa Myths record series progresses, the spirit of the collaborations between the artists chosen – one a member of the Mexican Summer family, the other for which we share deep admiration – deepens as well. In the case of Dungen and Woods, the two bands were tourmates in the summer of 2009, traversing America and bonding with one another in the process. The familiarity with one another’s music and personalities was already well in place, but the eight years that passed between the tour and the making of this record reveal that nothing was lost in the interim. Website

Merch

  • 6oz Canvas
  • Screen printed by Blue Collar Press
  • 14.5″ x 15.5″
Link
Marfa Myths x Jesse Moretti    
  • Recycled fabric
  • 18/1 Cotton Jersey
  • Thicker yarn with soft-yet-coarse texture.
  • Manufactured in Los Angeles by EVERYBODY.WORLD
  • Screen printed in NYC by Dromahair Printers.
  • Designed by mixed media artist and 2018 visual artist Jesse Moretti.
Link
  • Marfa Myths Pin
  • 1″
  • Soft enamel
  • Rubber-clutch backing
Link
Marfa Myths x Jesse Moretti
 
  • The recycled fabric is 18/1 recycled cotton jersey which means the yarn is thicker than most tees out there, with a soft-yet-coarse texture.
  • Shirts manufactured in Los Angeles by EVERYBODY.WORLD, and screen printed in NYC by Dromahair Printers.
  • Designed by New York based, mixed media artist and Marfa Myths‘ 2018 artist in residency Jesse Moretti.
Link

Musicians In Residence

Marfa Myths’ annual recording residency lives on with Cate Le Bon and Bradford Cox (Deerhunter, The Atlas Sound) realizing a long correspondence and friendship in a creative, collaborative context.  One for the his/herstory books!
Link
Connan Mockasin brings his pops, Ade Mockasin, along for the ride on the festival express. The father-son duo comprise a secondary recording residency at Marfa Myths 2018, writing, recording, and busking songs from Ade’s teenage years and their collective, present imagination.
Link

Exhibitions

Based on the organizing principles from Dr. Timothy Morton’s 2013 book, Hyperobjects, this collaboration with Ballroom Marfa will use ideas from Morton’s theory to explore the current ecological crisis. Alongside works from various contemporary artists, the project will also include objects from the local environment.
Link
The festival will host Imaginary Concerts, an exhibition and live printing, in honor of the release of Peter Coffin’s new book: Imaginary Concerts: Volume 2, a series of monographs between Coffin and various concert daydreamers. The project was inspired by the iconic posters of LA’s Colby Poster Printing Company, who printed the tricolor gradient posters from 1946 until 2012. A collaboration between Coffin, Anthology Editions and Stumptown Printers, the exhibit will display original prints from Coffin’s Untitled (Designs for Colby Poster Company), 2008.
Link

Information

The closest airports are El Paso and Midland, both about three hours away (directions from each here). If you are traveling to Marfa from El Paso, please be aware that the time zone changes from Mountain Time Zone to Central Standard Time, and you lose one hour.

There is a municipal airport in Marfa (three miles from Marfa) and one in Alpine (26 miles from Marfa), which can service most private jets. The Marfa Visitor Center offers free pickups to anyone staying in a Marfa hotel or a city-taxed VRBO; and apparently there’s a rental car service at both the Marfa and Alpine municipal airports.

Looking for adventure? Bring your RVS and campers and hunker down in some of our local RV parks.

Apache Pines RV Park
El Cosmico
Tumble In RV Park

Marfa has five hotels (and one B&B):

El Cosmico
Hotel Paisano
Hotel Saint George
Riata Inn
Thunderbird Hotel
Arcon Inn

 

 

 

If you can’t find anything in Marfa, never fear! Fort Davis and Alpine are close at hand, 21 and 26 miles away respectively (basically the length of your average commute). Our recommendations below.

Alpine

Alpine is a university town, so there are lots of budget lodging options. Some options include:

Antelope Lodge
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn Express
The Holland Hotel
The Maverick Inn

Fort Davis

A mere 20 minutes from Marfa, Fort Davis is one of our favorite getaways. For all lodging options, visit the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce.

Butterfield Inn Cottages
Harvard Hotel
Hotel Limpia
Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park
Stone Village Tourist Camp

There are many great houses and rooms available for rent in the area — check out all the options on VRBO and airbnb.

Where is Marfa?

Marfa is a small town of 2000 in Far West Texas, about three hours southeast of El Paso. For general info about Marfa, download our visitor guide — which has more details about eating, tours, and shopping — or visit visitmarfa.com and Marfalist, where you can find event postings, ride shares, and more.

How do I get to Marfa?

You can get to Marfa via car; plane; and train. If flying, fly into the Midland or El Paso airport, then rent a car to drive the remaining distance. Check out our Getting Here page for more info.

Where should I stay?

Marfa has five hotels — El Cosmico, Hotel Paisano, Hotel Saint George, Thunderbird Hotel, and Riata Inn — as well as many airbnb and VRBOs. There are also good options in both Fort Davis and Alpine. See our lodging recommendations for suggestions.

Can I get a refund?

Tickets are non-refundable, but we are happy to transfer your ticket to someone else’s name if you can no longer attend. Please email info@marfamyths.com to transfer a ticket.

Is it all ages?

Yes, Marfa Myths is an all-ages festival (and children under 13 get in free). Remember to bring your ID to all venues should you want to drink alcohol.

What is your photo policy?

You are welcome to take photos and video for personal use – just be sure to tag us with #marfamyths. For press, please email Stephanie Weiss stephanie@sweisspr.com for more info. (Note: absolutely no drones allowed.)

Are you looking for volunteers?

Not at this time, but feel free to email us at info@marfamyths.com

What should I bring?

We recommend bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks, water bottle, layers (weather in April can fluctuate), maybe a hat, and a great attitude.

Can I camp?

Yes, El Cosmico offers camping. Just be aware that the temperatures in April can be chilly, so come prepared. Don’t have gear? El Cosmico has huckleberry tents for sale and sleeping bags to rent, or you can rent one of their safari tents (which have beds with heated mattress pads, in case the temperatures drop).

Can I bring my RV?

Please do! There are three RV camping locations in the area — Apache Pines RV Park, Tumble In RV Park, and El Cosmico. See our lodging section for more details.

What if I have more questions?

Email us at info@marfamyths.com — we’re happy to help. And during the fest, stop by Marfa Myths headquarters at Ballroom Marfa to get info, pick up maps, buy merch, and more.

Things to remember

·Marfa is a small town of 2000 people, and doesn’t have the conveniences of a large city. Adjust your expectations and see these quirks as part of the adventure.

·If you are flying into El Paso, or driving from the West, be aware that you will pass through a Border Patrol Checkpoint on your way to Marfa.

·Looking to carpool or need a pickup at the El Paso or Midland airport? Try posting on Marfalist.

·We’re in the high desert, about a mile above sea level, and the altitude and dryness can be hard on newcomers. Stay hydrated!

·Be aware of law enforcement and obey all laws. Don’t speed, and wear your seatbelt.

·West Texas often has a burn ban in place. Please exercise caution with anything that produces a spark, including ashes or cigarettes.

·If you have any questions, email us at info@marfamyths.com

For more information about Marfa Myths, please email us at info@marfamyths.com

 

 

Getting Here

Plane

The closest airports are El Paso and Midland, both about three hours away (directions from each here). If you are traveling to Marfa from El Paso, please be aware that the time zone changes from Mountain Time Zone to Central Standard Time, and you lose one hour.

Car

There is a municipal airport in Marfa (three miles from Marfa) and one in Alpine (26 miles from Marfa), which can service most private jets. The Marfa Visitor Center offers free pickups to anyone staying in a Marfa hotel or a city-taxed VRBO; and apparently there’s a rental car service at both the Marfa and Alpine municipal airports.

Lodging

Camping

Looking for adventure? Bring your RVS and campers and hunker down in some of our local RV parks.

Apache Pines RV Park
El Cosmico
Tumble In RV Park

Hotels

Marfa has five hotels (and one B&B):

El Cosmico
Hotel Paisano
Hotel Saint George
Riata Inn
Thunderbird Hotel
Arcon Inn

 

 

 

Alpine & Fort Davis

If you can’t find anything in Marfa, never fear! Fort Davis and Alpine are close at hand, 21 and 26 miles away respectively (basically the length of your average commute). Our recommendations below.

Alpine

Alpine is a university town, so there are lots of budget lodging options. Some options include:

Antelope Lodge
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn Express
The Holland Hotel
The Maverick Inn

Fort Davis

A mere 20 minutes from Marfa, Fort Davis is one of our favorite getaways. For all lodging options, visit the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce.

Butterfield Inn Cottages
Harvard Hotel
Hotel Limpia
Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park
Stone Village Tourist Camp

Marfa VRBO and airbnb

There are many great houses and rooms available for rent in the area — check out all the options on VRBO and airbnb.

FAQ

FAQ

Where is Marfa?

Marfa is a small town of 2000 in Far West Texas, about three hours southeast of El Paso. For general info about Marfa, download our visitor guide — which has more details about eating, tours, and shopping — or visit visitmarfa.com and Marfalist, where you can find event postings, ride shares, and more.

How do I get to Marfa?

You can get to Marfa via car; plane; and train. If flying, fly into the Midland or El Paso airport, then rent a car to drive the remaining distance. Check out our Getting Here page for more info.

Where should I stay?

Marfa has five hotels — El Cosmico, Hotel Paisano, Hotel Saint George, Thunderbird Hotel, and Riata Inn — as well as many airbnb and VRBOs. There are also good options in both Fort Davis and Alpine. See our lodging recommendations for suggestions.

Can I get a refund?

Tickets are non-refundable, but we are happy to transfer your ticket to someone else’s name if you can no longer attend. Please email info@marfamyths.com to transfer a ticket.

Is it all ages?

Yes, Marfa Myths is an all-ages festival (and children under 13 get in free). Remember to bring your ID to all venues should you want to drink alcohol.

What is your photo policy?

You are welcome to take photos and video for personal use – just be sure to tag us with #marfamyths. For press, please email Stephanie Weiss stephanie@sweisspr.com for more info. (Note: absolutely no drones allowed.)

Are you looking for volunteers?

Not at this time, but feel free to email us at info@marfamyths.com

What should I bring?

We recommend bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks, water bottle, layers (weather in April can fluctuate), maybe a hat, and a great attitude.

Can I camp?

Yes, El Cosmico offers camping. Just be aware that the temperatures in April can be chilly, so come prepared. Don’t have gear? El Cosmico has huckleberry tents for sale and sleeping bags to rent, or you can rent one of their safari tents (which have beds with heated mattress pads, in case the temperatures drop).

Can I bring my RV?

Please do! There are three RV camping locations in the area — Apache Pines RV Park, Tumble In RV Park, and El Cosmico. See our lodging section for more details.

What if I have more questions?

Email us at info@marfamyths.com — we’re happy to help. And during the fest, stop by Marfa Myths headquarters at Ballroom Marfa to get info, pick up maps, buy merch, and more.

Things to remember

·Marfa is a small town of 2000 people, and doesn’t have the conveniences of a large city. Adjust your expectations and see these quirks as part of the adventure.

·If you are flying into El Paso, or driving from the West, be aware that you will pass through a Border Patrol Checkpoint on your way to Marfa.

·Looking to carpool or need a pickup at the El Paso or Midland airport? Try posting on Marfalist.

·We’re in the high desert, about a mile above sea level, and the altitude and dryness can be hard on newcomers. Stay hydrated!

·Be aware of law enforcement and obey all laws. Don’t speed, and wear your seatbelt.

·West Texas often has a burn ban in place. Please exercise caution with anything that produces a spark, including ashes or cigarettes.

·If you have any questions, email us at info@marfamyths.com

Contact

Contact

For more information about Marfa Myths, please email us at info@marfamyths.com