SATURNALIA 2017 FULL

Largely curated by Electric Church archbishops, Saturnalia pulls heavily from Austin's psych, world music, rock, shoegaze, and experimental scenes, bracing bona fide community favorites like Ringo Deathstarr, Octopus Project, and American Sharks with trending locals including garage-pop sirens Annabelle Chairlegs, crossover honky-tonkers Croy & the Boys, New Wave aggressors Big Bill, and femme rebels Sailor Poon.

With every festival lineup drawing the same townie complaint – 'Why aren't there more local acts?' – it will be telling to see if Austin shows up for a lineup drawing 90% of its talent from within the burg. That's also lacking in our community right now. 'We're also encouraging people to get weird – dress up, wear masks. 'There's a serious need for in this town, with big fests dropping out and a lack of smaller grassroots fests going on,' offers McGarrigle.

SATURNALIA 2017 FULL

Launching with pre-parties at Electric Church (Thu.) and Hotel Vegas (Fri.), Saturnalia goes into full effect Saturday and Sunday on Webberville Road. McGarrigle and his friends from underground space haven the Electric Church were in crunch time orchestrating the scene's newest DIY music spectacle: a four-day party with a name evoking toga-wearing revelry. 'Everything will be lit up with liquid light shows.' 'The stage will be here, Ra's temple goes there, all this will be fenced in,' waved the native frontman for Austin's wildly popular Afro-psych spectacle Golden Dawn Arkestra. To the left, a day party raged at Sahara Lounge, with the marquee reading 'Lesbian Wedding.' Betwixt, he visualized what the lawn would look like for Saturnalia Fest. To his right, African-American elders in exquisite suits moseyed out of a worship service. Late Sunday afternoon, Topaz McGarrigle stood in the grassy, multi-acre expanse fronting Webberville Road Baptist Church. Charles Ealey, and Bob Mustachio (Photo by John Anderson) I Saw the Light: (kneeling) Jeff Wallace (l), Nathanael Rendon, (back row) Fez Moreno (l), Levi Murray, Jesé Galapagos, Eileen Bristol,

Saturnalia 2017