More Than Just Three Reasons For NOT Missing III Points Festival | Preview | Wynwood District, Miami, Florida | October 10-12 2014

by Donnie George • October 8, 2014

The III Points Festival is this weekend down in South Florida. The festival focuses on music, art, and technology, so it is no wonder that it is being hosted again in the burgeoning Wynwood Arts District in downtown Miami. While Wynwood is considered a global hot bed for creatives even during its off-season, the area blossoms during Art Basel, Miami Beach in December. Consider III Points Festival the unofficial pre-game that cannot be missed. Here’s a recap of last year’s III Points Festival:

However, last year I sadly missed out on III Points Festival. I will not make that mistake again. I got so much FOMO (fear-of-missing-out), while I watched as my friends spend multiple days enjoying everything the festival had to offer, from amazing music, to left-field art installations, and a massive amount of bar and event hopping. The music portion of the festival boasted performers like DFA Records co-founder, and LCD Soundsystem-frontman James Murphy, legendary producer DJ Shadow, as well Orlando-based record label Relief in Abstract’s roster of up-and-coming musical artists, including downtempo electronic boy genius XXYYXX, abstract-psychedelic song maker Fortune Howl, and Philly-based sonic dreamer Spies on Bikes.

This year’s III Points Festival features returning guests like The xx’s beat maker and producer Jamie xx, New York City queer nu-disco Hercules and Love Affair (switching from a DJ format to hopefully a full live performance) as well as two performances from Canadian future garage and dance music maker Jacques Greene.

Other top headliners for this year, include widely popular pop Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li, my previously covered and much anticipated Flying Lotus and Thundercat performance (see here for a preview of their Orlando show this Thursday at the Beacham), and dance chart-topping British deep house producer Duke Dumont. All of these artists (plus RJD2, Millionyoung, and more) are carrying the first night. I would be set with even just that as a lineup, however the festival promises two more nights of similar caliber artists ranging from style-busting DJ/producers, unconventional solo singer-songwriters, and various formats of live bands.

Previously mentioned Jamie xx will anchor the second night along with a last second addition of Barcelona minimal and experimental house musician John Talabot (to sadly replace last second cancellation by Four Tet).

Rising profile Norwegian DJ and “future” R&B pioneer producer Cashmere Cat (who recently worked with mainstream commercial poptart-ist Ariana Grande as well as the more familiar rappers Ludacris, Wiz Khalifa, and R&B singer Jeremih), British new wave and electropop band Metronomy and Australia’s Future Classic-label (and reliable Flume collaborator) electronic soul-singer Chet Faker are all featured on the second night of III Points.

The final night will close out with minimal and tech house Welsh DJ/producer Jamie Jones. His electronic group, Hot Natured, will play prior to his closeout solo set, sandwiching in Montreal electro house veteran Tiga‘s set on the mainstage. During the earlier part of the night, performances from local garage/surf rock band Jacuzzi Boys, as well as Canadian jangle pop singer Mac DeMarco, will steer the sound of the festival away from the DJ/producer format. Chillwaver Com Truise will take the mainstage on the final night prior to a much anticipated set by Montreal-based hip hop and R&B DJ/producer Kaytranada.

Aside from the amazing lineup including local, national and global artists on the underground or up-and-coming variety, there is sure to be a slew of other pre-and-post parties at other local venues (like Sunday’s Body High BBQ with Samo Sound Boy and Jerome LOL at Cafeina Miami, or The Juan MacLean’s performance at the DFA BBQ at Gramps); panels and workshops on stage production and photography (at the Lab Miami) or ones on “Bro-Gaming” (an open panel discussion at the Hangar Gallery); yoga sessions at the world famous Wynwood Walls (check out “Wake, Bake & Revive” on Saturday); and one of the hottest events… an RJD2 Master Class on mixing and mastering called “RJ Teach U” (Friday at Scratch DJ Academy Miami).

wynwood walls | iii points music festival maimi 2014

Regardless, of the festival itself, Wynwood is a place to be. If music, art, and technology are the three points to which festival producers are alluding to, then Wynwood itself should be considered the unofficial fourth point of why you should not miss venturing down to Miami this weekend. Don’t be a sucker like me last year and make sure to make it down to III Points Festival this year.