Flying Island brings “tomorrow’s music today” to Marfa’s mystical landscape this October
Forget everything you think you know about music festivals. Flying Island is turning the entire town of Marfa into one massive stage where desert mystique meets cutting-edge culture, and you’re invited to experience something completely different.
This festival takes over iconic Marfa venues from October 23-26, 2025, transforming places like Larry’s, El Cosmico, Do Right Hall, and the USO into spaces where music, art, and food collide under the endless West Texas sky.
What Makes This Festival Different
Flying Island isn’t trying to be the next big corporate music fest. Instead, it’s filling the creative void left by Trans-Pecos with something entirely fresh—a genre-defying experience that stretches across generations and geographies.
The lineup reads like a who’s who of artists pushing boundaries: headliners Tortoise, John Carroll Kirby, and The American Analog Set anchor a roster that includes L’Éclair, Egyptian Lover, Combo Chimbita, Rich Ruth, Color Green, and dozens of other acts that cross every musical border you can imagine.
This is “tomorrow’s music today,” where you’ll discover sounds you never knew existed while surrounded by Marfa’s surreal desert beauty. After a successful debut in 2024 that featured Os Mutantes, Bill Callahan, and Steve Gunn, Flying Island returns with an even more ambitious vision.
Your Festival Experience
Instead of being confined to one venue, you’ll move through Marfa’s landscape like an explorer. One moment you’re catching an intimate set at Marfa Spirit Co., the next you’re experiencing performances under desert stars at Planet Marfa or diving into the energy at Do Right Hall.
Expect eclectic food pop-ups serving everything from local favorites to experimental cuisine. Cassette releases at Larry’s for the music collectors. Dance halls filled with dusty boots and lantern light. Art that appears when you least expect it in the most unexpected places.
The festival spreads performances throughout downtown Marfa, benefiting multiple businesses in the corridor rather than concentrating everything in one spot. This approach creates an intimate, exploratory experience that feels more like discovering your new favorite band in a friend’s living room than attending a massive festival.
The Practical Details
Four-day festival passes cost $203.67 total (includes $175 base ticket plus $13.58 fee and $15.09 sales tax). All-access means entry to every show across all venues for the entire weekend.
Can’t commit to four days? Thursday single-day tickets run $88.43 total (includes all fees and tax). Additional single-day options available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Kids under 12 get in free. Everyone over 12 needs ID for venues serving alcohol.
Here’s the local love: if you’re from the tri-county area (Brewster, Jeff Davis, or Presidio Counties), you get 50% off passes. Just swing into Stop & Read Books at 215 Highland Street with proof of ID to purchase your discounted tickets. Marfa takes care of its neighbors.
Tickets are available online through Eventbrite or at the door on show days, subject to availability. All tickets are sent digitally—no physical tickets will be mailed. Have your tickets ready on your phone or printed for bracelet redemption starting at 4pm on October 23 at Larry’s.
Where to Stay
Marfa offers accommodations for every style. Hotel Paisano, Hotel Saint George, Thunderbird Hotel, and Riata Inn provide traditional lodging. El Cosmico offers its signature camping experience. Airbnb and Vrbo rentals scatter throughout town.
If you’re rolling RV-style, Marfa Yacht Club and Tumble Inn RV Park have spots, but book early—these fill up fast during festival weekends.
Can’t find anything in Marfa? Check nearby Alpine and Fort Davis, both within easy driving distance and offering good accommodation options.
Desert Survival Guide
The Chihuahuan Desert is stunning but demands respect. Pack water—lots of it—for the blazing October days. Sunscreen and hats aren’t optional. Bring layers because desert nights drop surprisingly cool once the sun disappears.
You can reach Marfa by car, plane, or train. Flying in? The closest airports are Midland or El Paso, where you can rent a car for the scenic drive. The journey itself becomes part of the experience as you watch the landscape transform from city to endless desert.
Most importantly, bring your sense of adventure. This isn’t a festival where you plant yourself in front of one stage—it’s about discovery, movement, and letting Marfa’s magic guide your weekend.
Why This Matters
Marfa has always been where art and isolation create something extraordinary. Donald Judd transformed this tiny railroad town into an international art destination. Minimalist sculptures dot the desert. The mysterious Marfa Lights still puzzle scientists. And now Flying Island taps into that energy, bringing together a community of music lovers, artists, and desert dreamers.
When Trans-Pecos went on hiatus as El Cosmico planned its expansion, organizer Matthew Bolick—an Austin bar and restaurant owner who moved to Marfa—gathered friends to keep the momentum going. The result is a festival focused on exposing people to new experiences, whether innovative food pop-ups or intimate band performances in offbeat venues.
This is your chance to be part of something that promises to be bold, communal, and completely unforgettable. To experience music in a place where the landscape itself becomes part of the performance.
Ready for the Desert Adventure?
When: October 23-26, 2025
Where: Multiple venues across Marfa, Texas (Larry’s, El Cosmico, Do Right Hall, Marfa Spirit Co., Planet Marfa, USO, and more)
Passes: $203.67 for 4-day all-access pass | $88.43 for Thursday single-day | 50% off for tri-county locals at Stop & Read Books, 215 Highland Street
Ages: All welcome, kids under 12 free
What to expect: Genre-bending music, desert art, community vibes, food pop-ups, cassette releases
Tickets: flyingislandmarfa.com or eventbrite.com
Info: [email protected]
Get your passes before this secret gets out. The desert is calling, and Flying Island is your ticket to experience tomorrow’s music in one of Texas’s most mystical places.
This October, Marfa becomes more than a destination—it becomes a discovery.
