MR Fest: Getting better, all the time

"It's been a quick expansion over five, almost six years," Schumacher said. "My concern is always that we're putting together the best quality festival and that it's something we can manage."

Schumacher said Johnson is continuing the festival's legacy of annual improvement by making this year's event better, if not bigger. MR Fest 2013 features 82 performers playing at 10 stages throughout San Marcos. Last year's festival featured 98 bands and comedians performing at 14 stages.

"I think Lauren this year has looked at [last year's festival], stepped back and said, 'Wow, it was huge last year, almost too huge,'" Schumacher said. "'Let's make it a little smaller and a little more manageable.'"

Unlike its larger counterpart to the north, the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference, MR Fest showcases mostly unsigned or independent bands. The stages are not sponsored by corporate interests such as Spotify, Doritos or Mountain Dew, Johnson said, because that doesn't fit with what she calls the festival's "ethic."

"Whenever we talk about MR Fest to other people, it's really nice to hear them say it's kind of like a mini SXSW," Johnson said. "We don't say it's a mini SXSW because it's super independent, but it's good to hear people make that comparison because we do incorporate so many different bars around town."

Headliners for the past three years include This Will Destroy You, The Bright Light Social Hour and White Denim, none of whom are signed to major labels and all of whom have roots in Austin or San Marcos.

"There are a lot of artists who come out of San Marcos who are amazing and go on to do great things," Johnson said. "[San Marcos] is kind of like the best-kept secret."

For the past three years, the festival has also offered a marketplace in which local artists and artisans could hawk their wares. This year, KTSW and the Root Cellar have teamed up to bring Foodstock, a Hays County Food Bank benefit that combines charitable giving and music, to the festival.

Johnson said festivalgoers are encouraged to bring cash and canned food items to donate to the food bank.

The bands of MR Fest, in their own words

The Nouns, three-piece, Austin

"The Nouns sound like ebullient garage rock with howling vocals and pop sensibility." —Chris Rodriguez, bass and vocals

Kabomba!, seven-piece, San Marcos

"Kabomba! sounds like the collision between the Western world's funk-soul-horn-jam traditions with unashamed movements into A-minor Gyspy dances, Latin Cumbias, and chants that everyone can sing along to." —Bryce Gorski, vocals and guitar

The Black and White Years, four-piece, Austin

"Chilled out artwave seen through a vulnerable and personal perspective with songs dealing with issues around sex and relationships rather than the subject matter of science and religion as heard in the past." —Landon Thompson, guitar, keys and vocals

Equals, five-piece, Austin

"Equals plays instrumental, melodic rock with a wide range of influences." —Simon McDonald, guitar

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