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SXSW Encore: Blitzen Trapper sends new music to the masses

Blitzen Trapper

A Portland band started by Eric Early and Marty Marquis in 2000, Blitzen Trapper came to SXSW, played an amazing 11 shows and still had time to stop by the Wheeler Brothers house to relax and play a tune for the UTOPiA sessions. The highlight had to be a set played at Stubbs where they were joined by members of Big Star and R.E.M. on stage.

Generally described as folk rock or alt-country, the five member combo manages to conjure comparisons to Joe Walsh and Neil Young. The group has released six full length albums and continues to grow fans as a mad touring band. Eric Early, Marty Marquis, Brian Adrian Koch, Erik Menteer and Michael VanPelt are Blitzen Trapper. Here they perform "Fletcher" off of their latest album American Goldwing.

The UTOPiA Sessions served as an oasis on the edge of SXSW craziness, providing top-quality bands we love with an opportunity to play in a welcoming and relaxing environment."The UTOPiA Sessions put bands in a state of euphoria," says Aaron Brown, director of Onion Creek Productions. "First we get them set up, then they get into the massage chairs and style salon. A few beard trims and bloody mary's later, we head into the very 'Wes Anderson' looking billiards' room. Each band plays a couple of songs, the Onion Creek boys film, Craig Lawrence records sound and we get a finished video about twelve hours later."

"Fletcher" by Blitzen Trapper

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The UTOPiA Sessions is a co-production between Onion Creek Productions, UTOPiAfest, and Wheeler Brothers.

Onion Creek Productions is brothers Aaron and Jamie Brown, and Rob Seidel. We've been busy producing videos for several bands including Grupo Fantasma, Wheeler Brothers and Blitzen Trapper. Since we already were in the business of creating high-quality live and scripted live music videos, we had the opportunity to partner with Travis Sutherland, founder of UTOPiAfest.

Pat Cassidy is the Wheeler Brothers' manager and is the other producer of UTOPiA Sessions.

UTOPiAfest is an intimate campout festival in the most beautiful west Texas hill country — Utopia, TX. During the weekend of Sept. 28-30, over 20 top bands from around the world descend into the hills and end up in a secluded valley with vista's stretching for miles. There a lucky 1,800 people (capped audience) will enjoy a BYOB, free parking, free camping festival like none other. It's a magical location that has been the spot for many unreal music moments. UTOPiAfest last year featured bands such as Blitzen Trapper, Dawes, Keller Williams, Wheeler Brothers, Black & White Years, Grupo Fantasma, and Art vs. Science.

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Austin neighbor's chart-topping boom leads the week's most-read headlines

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Editor's note: The word of the week in Austin is growth. Whether it's fast-growing cities, the city's highly anticipated inclusion in the Michelin Guide, or an updated H-E-B ready to re-anchor the neighborhood, things are always reshaping and Austinites are keeping up online. Here are our most-read stories over the past week. Looking for things to do this weekend? Our top picks are here.

1. Austin neighbor saw 4th biggest population boom in U.S. for 2023.The Austin-area suburb of Georgetown has proven it's not just a laid back destination for tourists, but one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

2. Michelin Guide plates up first Texas picks, with 7 stars in Austin.The first Michelin Guide in Texas has finally made its picks known. At a black-tie event in Houston on November 11, the guide announced that 47 Austin restaurants have won recognition.

3. New South Congress H-E-B is finally opening at the end of 2024. After roughly two years of construction, H-E-B announced its 145,000-square-foot building on South Congress Avenue and East Oltorf Street will open to shoppers starting December 4.

4. Bubbly Austin brunch spot Irene's closing after 8 years. Despite the ever-increasing number of Austin brunches, the scene is losing a classic. Irene's on West 6th Street announced November 12 that it will be closing at the end of its lease this month.

Irene's Austin cocktail One of Austin's most popular brunch spots is throwing in the towel when its lease ends.Irene's/Instagram

5. $15.2 million Austin sanctuary is in the middle of a nature conservancy. The Sanctuary on Barton Creek is a 24-acre estate completely surrounded by a 4,100-acre nature conservancy to provide a peaceful and private escape from city life.