Along with major sporting events, music festivals were the canary in the coronavirus coalmine, with many of them canceling or postponing before most Americans felt the virus’ impact. First came South by Southwest and Miami’s Ultra Music Festival, which announced their cancelations March 6. Coachella announced its postponement March 10.
It was only a matter of time before other prominent South Florida music confabs followed suit: SunFest on March 13, Tortuga on March 15.
III Points, which from the hipster standpoint had the best lineup of all, was until this weekend the last festival standing. Originally scheduled for May 1 and 2, the eclectic and cutting-edge fest at Wynwood’s giant Mana Convention Center maintained a mystifying silence over the past two weeks of all-encompassing tumult, ignoring logical social-media inquiries from concerned fans and ticketholders, many of whom were set to travel from other states.
Now we know why: The festival’s organizers were working furiously behind the scenes to lock down new dates and retain as much of their much-heralded lineup as they could. This past weekend, III Points unveiled its new dates—Oct. 16-17—and a modified lineup that carries over its four powerhouse headliners: the Strokes, Robyn, Wu-Tang Clan and Disclosure. Also still on board: indie and electronic favorites Caribou, Kaytranada, Tycho and Amon Tobin.
We lost Chris Lake and personal favorite band of the original bunch, Stereolab, which will no longer be making the trek from the U.K. But organizers added exciting new talent like Rufus Du Sol, electroclash pioneer Peaches and Portland dream-poppers Chromatics.
This doesn’t change the fact that by neglecting its socials and keeping its audience in the dark for two and a half weeks was pretty bad form. But it’s great to know that, as they say, the show will go on. All previously purchased tickets will be valid for the new October dates, and two-day and single-day tickets are available at iiipoints.com.
