Deezie Brown performing at the MoFest ranch for a pre-party last fall. (Courtesy of MoFest)
It’s that sweet spot in Central Texas: post SXSW and pre sweltering summer, where the weekends becken for adventure, live music resounds far and wide, and that tent in your closet begs to be used. If you’re looking for that Austin-but-not-actually-in-Austin vibe, MoFest might hit the spot.
The intimate music, camping, and art festival debuts this weekend on a 300-acre ranch outside the microscopic town of Lexington, TX – 50 miles east of the capital. MoFest’s music lineup transports a select segment of Austin music to a stage under the country stars. A Giant Dog, Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, Night Cap, Clarence James, Angel White, Texas String Assembly, Riarosa, the Sidepiece Collective, Caelin, Skunk, and Willy McGee – plus an unannounced secret headliner – are all set to play on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile an intriguingly named “Vibe Barn” is set to host late night DJ sets by Casual T, Shadow Daddi, the Broothers Groove, and Weekend Boyfriend. Tickets, $80, are available here.
The titular “Mo” is Momin Ahmad – a local music insider who kills it on upright bass (his latest band Texas String Assembly will perform) and also tour manages for Austin bands. He and his Mo & Co partner Alexandra Arteaga discussed the experiential event’s mission and ahead of its first run.
Bird’s eye view of the MoFest Ranch. (Courtesy of MoFest)
Austin Chronicle: What does Mo & Co do and how did you get into putting on MoFest?
Alexandra Arteaga: This is the first festival and the plan is to have this turn into hyper-curated Austin-focused events all throughout town in the future, and potentially an annual MoFest.
I don’t think it would have been possible without the time that he and I individually have put into the music space in Austin. There’s a team of seven of us, with Mo and I being kind of the leaders of our crew, and really just putting together as many resources as we can get our hands on to make this happen and come to life.
AC: What is your end goal for MoFest? What do you all hope to accomplish?
Fake fur, real vibe: Momin Ahmad of MoFest. (Photo courtesy of MoFest)
Momin Ahmad: This past week, with the Coconut Club potentially being torn down, is an example of what’s been happening in the city where this new capital that’s coming in is in the hands of people that don’t want to redirect it back into what makes Austin interesting. I founded a tech company and receive the exact same capital, but I think that, at least for me, it’s important to redirect …….