The countdown to the inaugural III Points Music, Technology, and Art Festival has begun, and no doubt you're running around trying to figure out exactly which acts you should see and which ones you can miss. It's tough choosing, but don't worry, we've got your back.
Now, the whole idea behind III Points is to discover the great things Wynwood's got to offer, and to send the rest of the country a message that Miami's counterculture is ready for the big time. So make sure to come out and support as many artists as possible, but that being said, these are the five you really can't sleep on.
See also: III Points Festival Announces Music Schedule
XXYYXX
This 18-year-old stunner from Orlando will be warming up the decks for DJ Shadow. But be warned, this will be no ordinary opening set. His recent headlining show at Bardot was easily one of the hypest, dirtiest, most intelligently ratchet sets we've ever experienced. He's a humble guy with earthshaking talents, enough to pique the interest of his own idols. He perfectly blends soulful grooves with interstellar hood swag, creating his own unique style that's both familiar and fresh. No doubt this rising star will have the crowd at Friday's Point Bass turned out by the time he's through.
See also: III Points Festival Bringing James Murphy, Jamie XX, XXYYXX, DJ Shadow to Wynwood
Jamie XX
Three cheers for Jamie XX, without whom the whole III Points fest might not have happened. Besides being the wonderfully talented backbone of the XX, Jamie is quite the impressive performer on his own. His collaborative album with poet and singer Gil Scott-Heron, We're New Here, was an instant and influential classic. Plus, Jamie is deft at bridging old and new sounds, seamlessly incorporating live instrumentation into his tech-heavy format. Catch him as he readies Saturday's Point Blank dance floor for the legendary James Murphy, famed former frontman of LCD Soundsystem, another must-see act sure to bring the best of old and new to the decks in totally fresh ways.
Yacht
This band actually consists of two main members, Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans. Live, though, that duo expands to a quartet in order to render the full sonic spectrum of the group's lushly orchestrated material. Yacht exists at the intersection of synthetic dance music and guitar-driven post-punk, and as members of James Murphy's DFA Records, Bechtolt and Evans have committed to an analog approach -- meaning they really know how to play all this noise they're making. Rest assured, the band's talents are great and its dedication to quality is unwavering. So catching Yacht live in the act at Saturday's DFA BBQ will be a real treat.
See also: III Points Festival's Full Music Lineup
Austin Paul
Yay, local musician! No doubt, this young Miami guy will have you by the heart as soon as he touches his keys. He's a moody fellow who makes music with heavy, esoteric undertones. There's a strong vision behind his music and aesthetic, one that's mysterious and melodic but not to be taken lightly. At the moment, he is two EPs deep into an introductory trilogy. So definitely catch up on those releases, Velvet and Disparia, before checking out Saturday's performance with claymation artist Allison Schullnik at the Light Box.
DJ Shadow
The last time DJ Shadow came to Miami, he was forced off the decks at Mansion for being "too future." Luckily, that kind of thing would never happen at III Points. And that's why this set is guaranteed to go hard, because we've all got something to prove. We're hoping the legendary mixer drops his most futuristic mixes and goes all 3013 on the place, so he finally knows just how progressive and educated we actually are in the 305. The energy at Friday's Point Bass will be massive. Don't miss it.
III Points Music, Art, and Technology Festival. Thursday, October 3, through Saturday, October 5. Festival passes cost $110 to $125 plus fees via showclix.com. Visit iiipoints.com.
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