Embracing The Unexpected At Texas Eclipse 2024 [Festival Review]

When I first saw the lineup for Disco Donnie’s inaugural edition of the Texas Eclipse Festival, I was intrigued. Rarely do you see such a packed collection of artists from so many genres, whether it be jam, dubstep, house, or psytrance, anywhere in the United States. Throwing an event of this caliber, especially as a one-off gathering, is no easy feat–and I had to check it out for myself.

Texas Eclipse went viral after releasing the first phase of its lineup. With such a diverse array of musicians, not to mention the art, various panels, and more than 4 minutes of totality during a rare solar eclipse, it seemed as though it had the potential to be the event of the year. Headliners like Tipper, CloZee, STS9, and Bob Moses along with speakers including Paul Stamets made it instant gossip. But when there’s no established event to base your expectations on, gossip can quickly turn into rumors.

As I started doing my pre-festival prep a couple of weeks before the event, I began seeing discourse floating around online. “This event is going to be a disaster,” said one Facebook comment. “I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.”

That seems a bit dramatic, I remember thinking to myself. Sure, first-year fests can sometimes be a bit messy while they get their sea legs, but Disco Donnie and the other festival organizers (such as Gwen Gruesen from Symbiosis Gathering) all have experience in hosting similar events. Were there telltale signs of an impending disaster? It depends on who you ask. As for me, I decided to brush off the negativity and instead focus on planning my first big trip of the year.

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