35 Denton
![](../I/m/Flaming_Lips_at_NX35_2010.jpg)
35 Denton (formerly NX35 and 35 Conferette) is an annual 4-day music festival that takes place in the burgeoning corridor of downtown Denton, TX. The festival is programmed each March the week prior to the music portion of SXSW in Austin, TX.
35 Denton is organized by a core staff of volunteers. The music festival has featured many nationally-touring acts, such as The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Local Natives, Portugal. The Man, The Flaming Lips, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Mountain Goats, Bun B, Devin the Dude, Dr. Dog, Big Boi, Reggie Watts, The Civil Wars, Best Coast, Danny Brown, A Place to Bury Strangers, and more. Likewise, it also has a roster of notable local acts, such as Neon Indian, Midlake, Sarah Jaffe, Brave Combo, Riverboat Gamblers, Seryn, and more.
History
2005 – 2008: The Austin Years During SXSW 2005, festival founder Chris Flemmons planted the seeds of 35 Denton in the soil of Big Red Sun, a floral design boutique in Austin. Thirteen Denton acts performed on a stage in the business’s outdoor garden for an invite-only crowd of international journalists and industry types. The beer was free, the Tex-Mex was homemade, and the goal was uncomplicated: Show the world what Denton’s all about. Flemmons called the event NX35: The Afternoon Party of the Other, Smaller, Music Town in Texas. In 2006, it took place at Club DeVille, and in 2007 and 2008, the party moved to Momo’s. Some notable performers from the event’s years in Austin include Centro-matic’s Will Johnson, Midlake, Sarah Jaffe, and the Baptist Generals.
2009–Present: The Denton Years In 2009, after four years in Austin, Flemmons and a small staff of volunteers brought the day party home and turned it into a multi-day festival. The goal of showcasing Denton’s performers and people did not change, but the name did: NX35 Music Conferette, which opened with a keynote address led by American Splendor creator Harvey Pekar.[1] Before the inaugural festival ended, more than 4000 people had watched over 120 acts play on the stages of Denton’s numerous clubs and coffeeshops. In 2010, more than 250 acts performed on and around Denton’s downtown square – to an estimated audience of 20,000 people. The event began with keynote speaker Steve Albini and featured a now legendary free Saturday night performance by the Flaming Lips and Denton’s own Midlake at the North Texas Fairgrounds. Other notable performers from this era include Neon Indian, Centro-matic, Health, The Black Angels, The Baptist Generals, Brave Combo, Sarah Jaffe, Monotonix, Riverboat Gamblers, and True Widow.
![](../I/m/Nx35_2009.jpg)
In 2011, after some friendly encouragement, the festival changed its name once more: 35 Conferette. The name wasn’t the only big change, as the fest expanded into the streets of downtown Denton with the addition of three outdoor stages, one of which was on the courthouse lawn. Thousands gathered. Hundreds performed, including a growing roster of national talent like Big Boi, Mavis Staples, Dr. Dog, Reggie Watts, Japanther, and Damien Jurado. In the months that followed, 35 Conferette was named Best Promotional Event of 2011 by the Texas Downtown Association – and festival founder Chris Flemmons handed the event’s future to a new leadership staff led by Creative Director Kyle La Valley and Programming Director, Natalie Dávila. Many changes occurred, including the new name "35 Denton", which became finalized in Fall 2011.
In 2012, 35 Denton was headlined by The Jesus and Mary Chain – though they performed a few days later than anticipated. After visa issues prevented their Saturday night appearance, the band played the following Wednesday at the North Texas Fairgrounds, with Ty Segall as an opening act. Other notable 2012 acts included Built to Spill, Bun B, The Raincoats, OM, Best Coast, Thee Oh Sees, and Dum Dum Girls.
In 2013, 35 Denton featured performances by Solange, Sleep, Roky Erickson, Com Truise, Silver Apples, Killer Mike, Thee Oh Sees, Akron/Family, Man Man, Mikal Cronin, Mac DeMarco, Beach Fossils, Reigning Sound, Marnie Stern, Soul Clap, and the live Texas debut of Thurston Moore's side-project Chelsea Light Moving.
In fall 2013, it was announced that La Valley would resign and the festival would not occur in 2014. Flemmons filled her position, and it was announced that many changes would be made. 35 Denton 2015 will occur on March 13–15.
Lineups By Year
35 Conferette 2011 Performing Artists 2011
- Big Boi
- Mavis Staples
- Local Natives
- Dr. Dog
- The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
- !!!
- Portugal. The Man
- Gayngs
- Cut Chemist
- Reggie Watts
- Sarah Jaffe
- Secret Sisters
- Dan Deacon
- Miami Horror
- Kid Koala
- A Place to Bury Strangers
- How to Dress Well
- Esben and the Witch
- Big Freedia
- Japanther
- Damien Jurado
- Parts and Labor
- Lost In the Trees
- Pictureplane
- Viva Voce
- Mister Heavenly
- Houses
- Royal Bangs
- Colour Revolt
- Nite Jewel
- Delicate Steve
- No Joy
- The Mumlers
- CoolRunnings
- Reading Rainbow
- Young Buffalo
- Pterodactyl
- Now, Now (then known as Now, Now Every Children)
- Slobberbone
- Davila666
- Mother Falcon
- Woven Bones
- Dominique Young Unique
- David Dondero
- Database
- Franz Nicolay
- Southeast Engine
- Santah
- Sugar & Gold
- Yip Deceiver
- Parachute Musical
- Possessed By Paul James
- Mondo Drag
- The Sour Notes
- Jessica Lee Mayfield
- Atlantic/Pacific
- The Holler Time
35 Denton Performing Artists 2012
- The Jesus and Mary Chain
- Built to Spill
- Bun B
- Best Coast
- The Mountain Goats
- Devin the Dude
- The Raincoats
- John Vanderslice
- OM
- Atlas Sound
- Thee Oh Sees
- Dum Dum Girls
- Danny Brown
- Designer Drugs
- The Hood Internet
- El Ten Eleven
- Class Actress
- Oberhofer
- Light Asylum
- Gardens & Villa
- Peaking Lights
- High Places
- G-Side
- Main Attrakionz
- Wooden Wand
- Cowboy and Indian
- Teengirl Fantasy
- Night Beats
- Bleached
- Finn Riggins
- Bare Wires
- Cities Aviv
- Julianna Barwick
- R. Stevie Moore
- Milo Greene
- The Pass
- Psychic Ills
- Pond
- Millionyoung
- True Widow
- Evangelicals
- White Fence
- Wet Hair
- Woodsman
- Dinosaur Feathers
- Purling Hiss
- Sleep ∞ Over
- M.A.K.U SoundSystem
- RACES
- Mikal Cronin
- Mannequin Men
- Xray Eyeballs
- Natural Child
- David Ramirez
- Psychedelic Horseshit
- American Royalty
- Aan
- the Rassle
- Chapter 24
- Danny Malone
- The Romany Rye
- Tropical Ooze
- Sun Araw
35 Denton Performing Artists 2013
- Solange Knowles
- Sleep
- Camera Obscura
- Thurston Moore's Chelsea Light Moving
- Roky Erickson
- Beach Fossils
- Killer Mike
- Reigning Sound
- Thee Oh Sees
- Eyehategod
- Man Man
- Astronautalis
- The Spits
- Silver Apples
- Com Truise
- Akron/Family
- Born Ruffians
- The Soft Moon
- Merchandise
- Brutal Juice
- Wayne Hancock
- Prurient
- The Cannabinoids feat. Sarah Jaffe
- Expo '70
- Soul Clap Dance Off
- Scott H. Biram
- Poolside
- Mac DeMarco
- Prince Rama
- Marnie Stern
- The Ruby Suns
- Pallbearer
- White Lung
- Houndmouth
- Locrian
- Antwon
- You Won't
- Fossil Collective
- The Last Bison
- Ghost Wave
- Hey Marseilles
- Talk Normal
- Hunters
- Gap Dream
- OBN IIIs
- Fat Tony
- Sinkane
- Audacity
- Roomrunner
- Gary War
- The Coathangers
- Destruction Unit
- Delicate Steve
- Shannon and the Clams
- Valleys
- Odonis Odonis
- True Widow
- Dustin Wong
- John Wesley Coleman
- Nu Sensae
- Cloudland Canyon
- Idiot Glee
- Whirr
- Deep Sea Diver
- K.Flay
- Kingdom
- Prince William
- L-Vis 1990
- Bok Bok
- Dana Falconberry
- Ralph White
- Brainstorm (Oregon)
- Jamaican Queens
- Calvin Love
- Naomi Punk
- Gypsyblood
- Summer Twins
- Burnt Ones
- White Fang
- The Memories
- Pangea
- Colleen Green
- Video
- Mind Spiders
- How I Quit Crack
The Hot Wet Mess
In May 2012, 35 Denton announced a one day end of summer party to take place on September 1, 2012 entitled 'The Hot Wet Mess.' The festival's first venture into event production outside the 35 Denton festival took place at the North Texas Fairgrounds and featured Black Lips, No Age, Reggie Watts, Big Freedia, Unknown Mortal Orchestra as well as local acts Fergus & Geronimo, DJ Sober and RTB2. The event was sponsored by Vitamin Water and Corona Light, and consisted of attractions such as a water slide to overlook the stage.