Here Be Monsters festival Radio/East

KUT reported on May 21 that Here Be Monsters, an Austin festival focused on indie-classical and experimental music, will run Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, at Radio/East. The event is produced by Tetractys New Music and is billed by organizers as an entry point into a local scene that can be hard to categorize. KUT said the festival returns this year with short sets designed to keep the pace moving and lower the barrier for first-time listeners. Listings from organizers and local event calendars show the venue at 3504 Montopolis Dr. and performances beginning both nights at 6 p.m. ### Why are the sets so short? KUT reported that each act will perform a 15-minute set, with organizers saying the format is meant to make adventurous music feel approachable rather than intimidating. In Chad Swiatecki’s story, percussionist Christopher Demetriou described the event as “a festival for all the musicians that don’t really fit on any other festival.” (kut.org) Event listings tied to the festival describe the program as fast-moving and spread across Radio/East’s stages. Several public listings differ on exact set length, with organizer-linked calendars and ticket pages describing 20-minute sets, while KUT’s reported preview says 15 minutes. The common thread across those listings is a condensed showcase structure built around many acts over two nights. (kut.org) ### How big is the lineup this year? Organizer-linked listings say Here Be Monsters will feature 27 acts and 10 world premieres over the two-night run. KUT described the roster as more than two dozen vocal and instrumental groups working across contemporary composition, electronic soundscapes, prog-rock percussion and chamber music. (kut.org) Ticketing and calendar pages name artists including Kraken Quartet, Austin Unconducted, Density512, Zed, Invoke and Maru Haru. KUT singled out Demetriou’s group, Kraken Quartet, as an example of the festival’s broad stylistic range. ### Who is behind the festival? Tetractys New Music says it produces Here Be Monsters as part of its work to build Austin’s new-music scene. (kut.org) The group’s website describes Tetractys as a concert series serving local cultural needs and says tickets for the 2026 festival are on sale now. Visit Austin and the Austin Chronicle both describe the 2026 edition as the festival’s fourth year. (kut.org) Some other listings, including KMFA and Prekindle pages, say it is returning for a third year at Radio/East, suggesting the festival’s overall age and its tenure at the venue may not be described the same way across platforms. (tetractysnewmusic.com) ### What does “indie-classical” mean here? KUT said the festival gathers performers who sit between established categories rather than fitting neatly into standard classical or club lineups. Swiatecki’s story said the event has become an “on-ramp” to Austin’s experimental music scene, with artists working in chamber music, electronics and other hybrid forms. (kmfa.org) KMFA’s event page calls Here Be Monsters “a two-day exploration of Austin’s most celebrated indie-classical artists and creators.” Visit Austin uses similar language and adds that the event was named one of KMFA’s Top 12 Events in 2023 and 2024. ### What should attendees know before going? Prekindle lists doors at 5 p.m. and showtime at 6 p.m. on both May 23 and May 24 at Radio/East. (kut.org) The Austin Chronicle listing shows weekend passes at $50, single-day passes at $30 and student pricing at $25 for the weekend or $15 for one day, while KUT said weekend, single-day and student tickets are available through the festival’s site. (kmfa.org) Do512 and other local listings continue to carry artist and ticket information ahead of the weekend. The next concrete milestone is the festival’s opening night on Saturday, May 23, at Radio/East in Austin. (do512.com) (calendar.austinchronicle.com)