So What?! Festival is an annual festival held in Texas. SO WHAT?! Music Festival was originally established in 2008 and was originally called South By So What?! Music Festival. It was created as an opportunity for local Dallas residents to see more than 50 bands, who will go to SXSW, at a low price. Artists from all different genres such as rock, indie rock, metal, folk, dance, pop, hip-hop, electronic and pop-punk come to perform, as it has been stated by the owner of the festival that this event is a “festival made by fans for fans”. Past venues of this festival include Plano Centre, Dr. Pepper Arena, Palladium Ballroom, QuikTrip Park, and Deep Ellum.
So What?! festival will be a three day festival held from March 24th – March 26th. The festival celebrates its tenth anniversary with many artists who are celebrating their tenth album release. The festival also plans on having “secret shows” from some of the headliners. To celebrate this festival, it will be held in Deep Ellum on March 24th to kick off the three day event and then moved to AirHogs Stadium (formerly known as QuikTrip Park) on March 25th and 26th.
According to the press release, Mike Ziemer, the owner/founder of the festival had said the following about the festival:
“When I started my business it was just something I was doing for fun, but creating So What?! Music Festival is what made it a career. This festival is a year round commitment to our fans to produce an event that’s worth them coming from all 50 states and over a dozen countries. This festival is their festival and over the last 10 years, the bands that have worked their way from a small local band to a main stage headliner is incredible. This 10 year is our chance to bring some bands back to life, celebrate some 10 year albums, and continue showcasing bands that have been with us since day one of their careers. To be able to bring this event to Deep Ellum and the Ballpark is the the best way we could possibly celebrate everything that this festival was, is, and will be.”
UPDATE (12/7): So What?! has announced a second round of artists, including Atilla, After the Burial and Emmure.
Additionally, the festival has announced “Special Album Plays” from Envy on the Coast, Forever the Sickest Kids and more:
So What?! Festival 2017 Lineup
Mayday Parade
Attila
Emmure
After the Burial
Every Time I Die
Dance Gavin Dance
We The Kings
Set Your Goals
Chon
Envy On The Coast
Four Year Strong
Forever The Sickest Kids
The Friday Night Boys
Backwordz
Capsize
Escape the Fate
Fit For An Autopsy
Invent Animate
I See Stars
Kublai Khan
Like Moths to Flames
Sworn In
The Story So Far
Backtrack
Knuckle Puck
Power Trip
Turnstile
Between California & Summer
Can’t Swim
Capstan
Drug Church
Harm’s Way
Jesus Piece
Kid Liberty
Let It Happen
Light Years
Milestones
Sleep On It
Avion Roe
Begotten
Call Me Karizma
City Under Siege
Closure
Clover The Girl
Drake Complex
gP.(Ghost Parade)
He Is We
Huey Mack
I The Victor
It Lives It Breathes
Kenny Holland
Layne
Marty Grimes
Never Shout Never
Plaid Brixx
Recent Rumors
Run2Cover
Stepdad(fla),
Sunsleep
Sykes
The Browning
The Human Experiment
The Last Ten Seconds of Life
The Leader The Legend
Under Dog House
Unity-TX
Whitney Peyton
Young Lungs
Assuming We Survive
Cover Your Tracks
Eidola
Erra
Forget Conformity
He Is Legend
Home Above
Icarus The Owl
Idle Lives
Keep Flying
Kurt Travis
Moth Wings
My Enemies & I
Mylets
Navajo.
Nominee
Norma Jean
Odd Folks
Phinehas
Project Icarus
Runaway Kids
Sianvar
Something More
Spite
Stolas
Sundressed
Super Whatevr
The Grindmother
The Happy Alright
The Ongoing Concept
Thirtyseven
Young Graves