Southwest Synth Fest: Austin gets a brand new synth event and expo

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There’s a brand new synth event about to go down. The newly established Southwest Synth Fest (SWSF) will be held for the first time on June 15 in Austin, Texas. SWSF will feature a gear expo, synth building workshop, synth talks, and artist performances.

A proper synthesizer event like this was missing in Austin until now. The organizers of Southwest Synth Fest have set out to change that, saying that SWSF is about “creating community and education among synthesizer manufacturers, enthusiasts, and artists”. They’re envisioning an annual festival full of activities, exhibits, and performances.

Free synth expo and expert talks

Daytime events run from 10am until 6pm on June 15 at the Austin School of Film (2200 Tillery Street, Austin, TX), and are free of charge. There will be a synth expo with manufacturers like Alright Devices, Delptronics, LXZ, Starling, Synthesis Technology, and Warm Star Electronics showcasing their gear. Attendees are also welcome to sign up for a table, showcase their setup, and connect with other enthusiasts.

In the afternoon, you can join synth expert talks by Paul Schreiber of Synthesis Technology, Kyle Evans of Cracked Ray Tube and pulseCoder, and Bradford Kinney of Warm Star Electronics.

SWSF also has a synth building workshop at 10:30am, in which participants can build a Division 6 Business Card Synthesizer. However, word is that the workshop is unfortunately already sold out. Now, if that isn’t a good reason to return for SWSF 2020!

SWSF synth performances

The evening kicks off at 6pm at the Museum of Human Achievement, with modular synth performances presented by Modular On The Spot. Admission is free. Later that night, also at the Museum of Human Achievement, you can celebrate at Synth Fest after Dark. Live acts include Dylan Cameron, Acid Jeep, Bragglights, and The Viewer. Tickets for Synth Fest after Dark will be available at the door, for a sliding scale donation starting at $10.

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