Song Stills

The best music moments captured at Fun Fun Fun Fest

Grimes brings the energy to the blue stage during FFF Fest.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Jane's Addiction performs the entire Ritual de lo Habitual album.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Fucked Up frontman Damien Abraham gets up close and personal with fans.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches croons to fest goers.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Peaches wows the crowd with fun antics and multiple costume changes.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Toro y Moi rocks out on the orange stage.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Antemasque tears it up with guest drummer Travis Barker.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Lauryn Hill closes out FFF Fest with an intimate performance.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
L7 showcases their raw and unapologetic music.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
American Football's nostalgic performance on the orange stage.Photo by Daniel Cavazos

It almost seemed as though the 10th anniversary of Fun Fun Fun Fest was bound to be doomed. Arguably the most anticipated performer canceled due to illness. Then, a top comedian’s flight was canceled due to weather. Day two brought uncertainty as the festival awaited approval from the City of Austin to open the gates, unsure if rain would cause delays.

But in true music fashion, the show did go on, and Fun Fun Fun Fest did not disappoint in the slightest. Replacing the canceled D’Angelo show was the legendary Lauryn Hill; Tig Notaro’s standup show was rescheduled from day one to day two; and, eventually, music fans were let into the soggy festival grounds on the second day, causing almost no delays to the schedule.

We at CultureMap donned our best rainproof clothes and faced the fest head on to capture top music acts from around the world. From old school rock ‘n’ rollers to up-and-coming rappers and heavy metal wailers, FFF Fest managed to curate a unique — at times oddball — lineup of major music influencers and those just breaking into the game.

jump around

World's biggest bounce house to land at Austin-area fairgrounds

When we say the world's largest bounce house, we mean the world's largest bounce house. Photo courtesy of Immerse Agency

If you've ever wanted to cavort about in a bouncy castle half the size of the White House, now is your chance: The Big Bounce America is bringing the world's largest bounce house to the Austin area.

It will be set up from Friday, April 4 through Sunday, April 6 at Manor TX Fairgrounds in Manor, about 20 miles from the center of Austin.

Standing 32 feet tall and with 24,000 square feet of inflatable jumping space, the world's largest bounce house contains slides, ball pits, towers to climb, basketball hoops, and a ballroom (jumproom?) in the center manned by a DJ. The construction is a marvel of the whimsical arts, dwarfing anything that visitors have seen before at their local birthday parties and carnivals.

"We need more fun in the world, and what better way to bring that into 2025 than with a 24,000-square-foot bounce house," says Noa Visnich, tour manager of parent company The Big Bounce America. "The Big Bounce America is the perfect event for kids and adults alike to get out of the house and enjoy an outdoor event like they’ve never experienced."

The world's largest bounce house is only one of several attractions The Big Bounce America is bringing to the city. Families can tackle a 900-foot obstacle course themed around fighting a kaiju that ends with a massive monster slide.

Gamers will enjoy the Sports Slam area, where a variety of ball games pit teams against each other. The airSPACE combines bottomless ball pits with inflatable alien menaces to create an immersive interstellar experience, while the Octopath is an undersea foam party.

When CultureMap covered the arrival of the world's largest bounce house in Houston three years ago, it was only a mere 16,000 square feet. Now it's 50 percent larger and, presumably, bouncier. The exact scientific relationship between the size and enjoyability of expanding an inflatable attraction to a historic degree is unknown, but playful kids should have a wild time exploring the possibilities.

"We invite all kids, and kids at heart, to kick those sneakers off and party on," says Visnich.

Tickets are available from the official website as follows: $22 for Toddler Sessions (for ages 3 and younger); $35 for Junior Sessions (for ages 7 and younger); $35 for Bigger Kids Sessions (for ages 15 and younger); $45 for Adults Only Sessions (for ages 16 and older). Check the FAQ for more details and helpful hints.

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