Astronox Music & Arts Gathering: Reflections On The Impressive 2021 Event and A Promising Look Forward to 2022

There is an ancient magic, an unshakeable warmth, an ancestral embrace to watching a fire burn in community with fellow people. Throughout the 2021 Astronox Music & Arts Gathering, a robust bonfire cast its brilliant glow upon hundreds of smiles brought together in shared love for sound and expression. Its fiery chemical reaction soothed the bodies of festival-goers amidst frosty November air. These grand flames quickly unfolded into the lifeblood of this enchanting festival, embodying the bright and emerging essence of Astronox.

Tucked away within the Texas drylands an hour west of Austin, the second edition of Astronox unfolded its festive wings. Since its inception in 2019, the multi-day gathering provides an imaginative space for communities drawn to the niche realms of downtempo, world, glitch hop, psydub and psybient. Nick Sumbles, the festival’s founder, strives to showcase the narrative-driven side of electronica; those vast expanses of sonic storytelling so often left untouched in modern live music scenes.

“Astronox is focusing on what I like to call ‘Cinematic’ electronica, exploring the rarer side of composition in the form of downtempo, melodic, and experimental music with a healthy dash of eclectic, top-notch bass music,” says Nick, whose industry experience spans nearly a decade of festival production and event management. “With time, we hope to become a place where audiophiles and bassheads alike can experience what we believe is one of the best, most passionately curated festival experiences in the South.”

Engaging Visual Environments

Capped at 700 attendees with an additional 200 people working the festival in some capacity, the 2021 gathering immersed its attendees in a refreshingly intimate setting. The event’s musical focal point was its intentionally minimalist yet intricately detailed stage, which served as a central hub during the event. Visual projections struck the screen-like surface at the stage’s heart, traveling about 20 yards from the lighting tent located midfield. A string of colorful lights laced either side of the stage, reaching outward while flashing between vibrant nodes.

Astronox featured several multi-sensory installations, a menu of personal development and community-building workshops, and an immaculate array of live visual artists.

Several talented vendors lined one area of the field expanse, selling merchandise ranging from visual prints and mineral jewelry to thrifted clothing and homemade mementos. Near the vendors, a triangular art piece displayed a hanging magnet spinning in alignment with Earth’s rotation. To the stage’s left, a decorative bus was drenched in dreamy digital projection. Further back from the stage towered a circular installation, tethered by a staircase where attendees could snap some photos and admire a shifting spectrum of lights.

After sunset, a fire-spinning circle breathed its way to life, transforming the main grounds into a burner-esque haven for seasoned flow performers and mesmerized viewers alike. Shooting stars traced the remote Southern night sky, blazing their meteoric tails for dreamers gazing toward the cosmos.

“There was an area behind the stage that was very dark, giving everyone a chance to view the Milky Way. I had many moments with many different people back there while admiring the stars. This gave us a chance to connect with each other on a deeper level as we ogled at the vastness of our universe,” says Melanie Farris, a painter focusing her art on geometrical linework and optical illusion. “Sharing special moments like that at a festival with people I just met really stuck with me. I will never forget it.”

Origins of Astronox: Meet Nick Sumbles

The initial spark for Astronox was seeded by Nick’s early exposure to creative outlets and more recent observations about his regional music scene.

When he was in high school, Nick discovered Newgrounds, one of the first platforms for sharing tunes, drawings, games, and animations. He began crafting stories based on the music and art he absorbed. This open-ended process of world-building drew him to the atmospheric, melodic, and psychedelic sides of electronica. Nick’s personal experiences with neurodivergence also shape his love for narrative-driven music composition.

“As someone who has ADHD and grew up with Asperger’s, experiences with art and music tend to massage my brain and send me on a journey,” says Nick. “Simply put, I prefer music that makes me think.”

More than a decade later, Nick has amassed a notable portfolio of event curation and festival management. Since 2013, he’s hosted nearly 50 music and arts gatherings, many of which have attracted 1,000+ people from around the U.S. Through these industry experiences, Nick and his peers have magnified some of the unique needs of Austin’s electronic scene.

“I now have a clear understanding that there was a gap here in Austin for electronic music lovers looking for outdoor camping festivals. There have been many lessons and many successes, and I have wrapped all of that in a nice package to mold Astronox here in Austin,” says Nick. “This city has a wide diversity of taste, which allows us to test the waters with all sorts of genres.”

In addition to thought-provoking soundscapes, Nick is also drawn to “earth-shattering bass tracks that crash into your eardrums like a goddamn meteor.” Such diversity in taste informs his team’s imaginative approach to curating event schedules. Nick sees the thoughtful sequencing of music programs as prose, an opportunity to weave stories together in ways that invite people to dance around a much broader and intangible fire.

“When booking acts, it’s important to treat them like colors on a canvas based on how emotional they are and schedule them in a way that is comfortable and tells a story,” says Nick.

A Showcase of Cinematic Excellence

In that light, Astronox 2021 platformed a range of critically-acclaimed and up-and-coming musicians across many an electronica sound design. Richard Devine, Kaya Project, Globular, Somatoast, ATYYA, Mindex, DRRTYWULVZ, Know Matter, and Flintwick, among a skilled undercard of local and regional talent, all showcased their auditory flair. It was evident that each set was crafted with nuance, love and care.

Somatoast and DRRTYWULVZ thrived on Thursday. The former performed a playfully fantastical set that was sprinkling in signature Somatoast charm, followed by a murky foliage of sonic footprints marked by the treacherous tracks of DRRTYWULVZ.

Friday featured a mystical two-hour marathon from Mindex, fusing jazz and hip-hop while seasoned with his signature melodic futurism. At midnight, ATYYA graced the stage for a primal 75-minute set, unleashing his aptitude for instinctual bass frequencies that turn humans into creatures crawling about the dancefloor.

World music took center-stage on Saturday night. Globular gave listeners a rhythmic glimpse into the latitudes of low-end psychedelic bass across cultural time and space. Kaya Project followed suit, delivering a two-hour anthology of intricate dub music soaked in somatic instrumental composition.

“For a 500 person capped festival, the talent that was brought in was unparalleled. A lot of the acts are ones that are not very common,” says Hunter Christian, an event producer and Astronox attendee. “It was such a treat to see Globular again.”

Among the undercard talent was Rolando Ramirez aka OldGold, an Austinite and Background Noise artist. He performed early on Saturday afternoon and took a unique approach to arranging his setlist.

“I searched for tunes that were easy to listen to but super funky, mostly from Brazil, Spain, South Africa, etc. The goal was to give people a taste of sound from across the spectrum while slowly lurching towards the darker side of percussion …” says OldGold. “... eventually leaving me the last 25-30 minutes to fully flex the soundsystem.”

In true ingenious and enigmatic style, Richard Devine took the limelight. The treasured headliner worked his modular synthesis magic from 3:30-4:30am on Saturday morning, delivering a cryptic set at the strange intersection of IDM, ambient, and noise. Devine, a world-renowned electronic musician and sound designer based in Atlanta, is celebrated for conjuring a highly layered, heavily textured digital atmosphere throughout his discography. He pushes the boundaries of what the human mind recognizes as music, combining multiple influences from glitch and noise into a hair-raising, mind-bending genre all his own.

Devine’s legendary set was akin to inverted clockwork enmeshed in a rhythmically demented canvas of musical oblivion. His beneath-the-iceberg noise adventure surely left a lasting impression on the night owls in attendance, invoking bold possibilities for the future of Astronox.

And fortunately for the cinematic electronica crowd, this sophomore festival is emerging into a fiery flame with immense promise.

“The past two years have taught me people are interested in music just as I am, which absolutely melts my heart,” says Nick. “I am surrounded by a massive array of professional, talented folk, and I am genuinely grateful they want to help grow this community as much as I do.”

Elevating the 2022 Experience

Nick and his team are working to expand the Astronox experience. In 2022, the event is pivoting to Apache Pass, situated about an hour northeast of Austin. This beloved location – the former venue for Art Outside and where Nocturnal Wonderland got its start – is more conducive to the festival’s increasing size and evolving needs.

“There’s over 60 hours of music from 12 states and four countries, 7+ art installations, a coordinated fire performer team, 50+ live painters, 40+ vendors, 20+ workshops, and bigger visual production than ever. The stage will be a bit larger with high-quality visuals created by 10 different visual jockeys (VJs),” says Nick. “I couldn’t be more excited.”

Formerly a three-day event, Astronox is extending into a four-day stretch of audiovisual galore in 2022, scheduled for October 20-24. Nick and his team are also upgrading the event’s soundsystem. The Hennessey Sound crew recently created “Intent Audio,” a brand new 150k+ system built specifically for the Astronox experience. Among the stacked upgrades are 150A 3-Phase Motion Labs power distros. Producers and audiophiles from around the country are sure to soak up this special and original spectacle.

Performing on these impressive decks will be a world-class lineup of auditory production wizardry. The 2022 gathering will showcase Bluetech and Entheogenic as headliners. Bluetech is esteemed for his emphasis on melody and ingenious blending of dub with ambient techno. Entheogenic is revered for their impressionist approach to orchestral sound, merging world instrumentals with diverse human voices to deliver waves of ethereal synth delight.

National and global favorites within the cinematic electronica realm, including Rob Clouth, Woulg, Zebbler Encanti Experience, Supersillyus, 5AM, Craftal, Somatoast, Mindex, Living Light, Flinkwick, Arcturus, Entangled Mind and more will grace the Astronox stage this year. Especially exciting is The Flashbulb with a double booking. Kaya Project will also be delivering two shows, one of which will be a “hibernation” set. Additionally, DRRTYWULVZ is slated for two sets, one of which will be a rare showcase of his side project, “DRRTYBRGRZ,” accompanied by a cookout during which attendees can eat, dance, create and connect.

“We are in a golden age for musical production. Over the past decade, more producers than ever before have been creating music thanks to the availability of affordable, yet powerful computers and audio-related technology. The only downside to this is many creators find it difficult to market themselves, and they get lost in a sea of tunes,” says Nick. “People like me are seeking out these talented, auditory underdogs and attempting to give them a spotlight.

OldGold is especially thrilled to return to the lineup. He looks forward to watching the festival continue to hit the mark on multiple fronts as it raises visibility for emerging Texas-based talent.

“As Astronox grows, I’m excited to watch the curation evolve into new, unheard artists. A lot of the lineup is local, so folks get to experience the real underground scene of Texas, and that’s what I want everyone coming in to fully explore,” says OldGold. “Additionally, the hospitality team has always managed to have every bit covered from soundsystem, visuals, food, and so on.”

In particular, Nick and peers consistently set the bar high for artist hospitality, and past attendees are taking note. In 2022, Astronox’s above-and-beyond care for its performers is guaranteed to keep exceeding expectations.

“The hospitality provided to the artists is something I take notice of, and I think it shows a lot about Nick and his team how much they appreciate the music. Astronox treats the artists with the utmost respect, and you can tell the artists are honored to be there,” says Hunter. “The 2021 gathering was the first event I went to that was produced by Nick – his interaction with the community made the event that much more enjoyable.”

The festival is also scaling its creative infrastructure and interactive programming. Nick reports new features including but not limited to: a forest decorated with glowing crystals; an array of large metal flowers; a floating LED cloud; a tea lounge with Chinese ceremony (gong fu cha) and sound healing; and an interactive screen that measures body movement and outputs them in a warped painting.

One familiar art installation from the 2021 event will be the massive snake-like structure. This impressive art piece invites people to tunnel through it while peering into the beast’s kaleidoscopic heart.

“The huge snake installation was an absolute dream to walk through; those artists really put in the work on that piece,” says Melanie, who will paint live at this year’s gathering and is enthusiastic about the many new visual sights in store. “This festival has a real fam vibe to it and I really appreciate all the effort everyone puts into making it happen.”

Among the relaxation areas will be a living room with visuals from anime and films, all glitched together with modular and analog multimedia equipment.

“Tremendm Labs is bringing a huge assortment of analog video equipment to create an interesting and immersive movie space where we can rest and watch ‘glitched’ movies throughout the event,” says Nick. “It’s an incredibly unique experience you’ll want to check out.”

The 2022 gathering will also include a hub for gaming and virtual reality, hosted by Chris Kline. This retro-themed arcade will be home to Magic the Gathering and Super Smash Bros tournaments, among other nostalgic activities.

Additionally, the Astronox team is opening an official youth-friendly campsite filled with activities suitable for children and their caregivers. This space will be hosted by Cat Hicks, whose experiences hosting 20+ festivals will ensure a meaningful and engaging time for kids at Astronox.

Nick and colleagues are intentional about ensuring Astronox continues to be more than just another music and arts event.

“We are bringing on many new members to the team to help lead volunteers, workshops, an art gallery, production, logistics, and more. This year is a huge step up for the gathering, and we are all incredibly excited to show everyone what we have in store for them,” says Nick. “My five-year goal for Astronox is to grow the gathering to 1,500 people, continuing to focus on an intimate, rare experience I hope is considered a ‘special treat’ for audiophiles and newcomers alike.”

Making Memories & Meaning

Most newer festivals take several years to find their unique footing amidst a rapidly changing electronic scene. But the Astronox brand is quickly cementing itself as a thoughtful, introspective, liberating site of joy within the Southern festival circuit. James McCarthy, a landscape artist inspired by the legendary Salvador Dali, designs the event’s enchanting lineup artwork. He weaves a vivid surrealist alchemy throughout the Astronox design, arriving at a vibrant mosaic that mirrors the festival’s bright and fiery invitation into the familiar unknown.

The warm, inviting, transformative motifs within this artwork reflect the fabric of the Astronox experience, an immaculate gathering of meaningful moments that Astronox fam hold close to their hearts.

“The chaos, love, and incredible talent all molded into one big maelstrom was an irreplaceable experience, and it’s a big part of why I love this job,” says Nick, revealing a few of his many Astronox memories that he will cherish forever:

Picking up random people and taking them on golf cart rides. Being tackled by my best friend. Seeing strange, yet hilarious poetry stuck on the bathroom walls. Witnessing my parents drinking beer next to some wooks. Hugging countless bodies and giving hundreds of high fives. Going airborne with my Honda Accord by driving over mud way too fast. Losing my mind to Richard Devine. Finding all five of my exes in the green room all at once and awkwardly scooting past them just to get some Kombucha. Smiling endlessly. Saying “how the hell” every ten seconds at the fire spinning circle. Dancing until my legs turned to jello. Politely telling some dude to GTFO after he somehow snuck his way onto the stage and started dancing while a headliner performed. (Seriously, that guy was a ninja). Losing myself in some of the best art I have ever seen.

Such wholesome, absurd, fulfilling, outrageous, and vulnerable moments provide a meaningful glimpse into the vast array of experiences one can expect while at Astronox. And perhaps the most intimate memories of the previous gathering were formed around that brilliant bonfire. The interstellar magic that unfolds when human beings fan the flames of shared warmth – pausing to bear witness to one another – reflects the spirit of all that Astronox strives to be.

“I believe many of us are happier during these moments than any other times in our lives, and I for one will fondly remember them right before my last breath,” says Nick. “I’ll never forget seeing hundreds of faces illuminated by the bonfire as the smoke towered above their heads and crawled into the stars.”

This article was originally published through Background Noise.