III POINTS FESTIVAL, MIAMI
Last weekend, III Points Festival brought Miami some much-needed sunshine on it’s triumphant fourth-year return. With an aim to combine music, art and technology in local and innovative ways, the festival pulled out all the stops this year with FUSION + NASA-sponsored installation Mars 2030 and video projections on display by The Institute of Contemporary Art. Despite cancellations of big names like LCD Soundsystem and Earl Sweatshirt (both due to inability to find a way around Hurricane Matthew), everyone was more than ready to make up for it in any way possible – some acts like Method Man & Redman, Flying Lotus and M83 were the most anticipated of the weekend, with good reason. No one does a hurricane party quite like us!
[WORDS BY VANESSA B // PHOTOS BY JASON KOERNER]
// DAY ONE, 10/7
London-based DJ SOPHIE kicked off the festival just right, the crowd forming at Main Stage moving and grooving to every single beat. Chrome Sparks put on the show of a lifetime at Main Stage as well, telling the crowd that it was his best show yet in both Florida and the US of A. Local favorite Otto Von Schirach lit the Sunset@noon stage on fire, combining his sick beats with the strange, magical allure of the aesthetic and installations set up around the room. Other acts like Vince Staples and Indigochildrick quickly became crowd favorites and had us longing for more.
// DAY TWO, 10/8
Without a doubt, III Points had their mind set on making up for lost time as well as lost headliners – and day two definitely took the cake. Wu-Tang legend Method Man and Redman put on one of the most energizing sets I doubt I will ever see surpassed, rousing the crowd at Main Stage with iconic hits from 90’s past. DIIV was a hazy, dreamy slip back into yesteryear as well as projections of Kurt Cobain (frontman Zachary Cole Smith’s often-cited idol) flashed across the projection screens at Mind Melt stage, bringing the crowd a lot of old favorites like “Sometime” and “How Long Have You Known.” Local duo Deaf Poets proved that they are not to be underestimated, as they brought festival-goers a lively set not to be forgotten. Thee Oh Sees, a much-loved veteran of the music scene and possibly the most anticipated act of the night, closed the night with one of their best sets to date.
I also had the opportunity to catch up with Plastic Pinks, who played an incredible electrifying set at the Sector 3 stage and are now on their fourth release with new EP “El Animal” set to be out on November 5. Based in Miami, the band describes their sound as “rad city sticky pop.” With big things in the works, we sat down to chat and discuss what the bands plans are, where the Miami music scene is headed, and what’s been spinning on their recent playlists (Interviews coming soon).
// DAY THREE, 10/9
The festival was closed out strong by one of the ultimate lineups, including the likes of Flying Lotus, Flight Facilities and M83. Main Stage had a constant jam-packed crowd, with most attendees wanting to catch the legendary Flying Lotus who spent his birthday spinning tunes with III Points. Machine Drum brought the festival to it’s ultimate peak, proving that despite the rescheduled time slot it would still be one to remember. Some smaller acts like Modernage still put on quite a show at sector 3, bringing together old and new fans alike. M83 was by far my favorite set of the night – there was not one soul in the Mind Melt crowd who wasn’t moved in some way, as the French band went from favorites like “Do It, Try It” straight into “Steve McQueen” and, eventually, sax-electrifying “Midnight City.
III Points reminded me of what I love about live music and why I do what I do: despite the illusion of control, everything is ultimately left to the stars aligning, the clouds clearing, and the dice being rolled by someone else’s hands. Good energy was more than overflowing in the atmosphere this weekend. From local talent to big-time headliners, there was a little piece of home for everyone – and for those from Miami, constant reminders of how lucky we can be.
If you’d like to help out those still suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, consider donating to Haitian-led organizations that contribute directly to relief efforts such as Haiti Communitere, SOIL, Fondation Aquin Solidarité, and Konbit Mizik. Some non-Haitian organizations with proven track records in Haiti are Doctors without Borders, Roots of Development, Border of Lights and Nova Hope for Haiti. Your donation could make a tremendous difference.
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Photos © Jason Koerner. All Rights Reserved.
