III POINTS MUSIC FESTIVAL PREPARES TO RETURN TO MIAMI, SERVING AS A SYMBOL OF RESILIENCE FOR THE CITY AND THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AT LARGE.
III Points features a hyperlocal artist component to showcase rising and veteran acts that span different genres across music and the arts. PHOTO BY ADI ADINAYEV
“This is the local festival,” says founder David Sinopoli. “You get to go see the art community perform at its Super Bowl, and then they put their stuff away and party in that festival. … The whole scene is there, even in the crowds. You’re really around the Miami scene, watching it support itself. It’s a beautiful exchange.”
PHOTO BY ADI ADINAYEV
This year, III Points (iiipoints.com) stands as a celebration of resilience and strength not just for the local community but for Miami and music at large. Like most events, the COVID-19 crisis forced III Points to cancel its 2020 festival, resulting in two reschedules before finally landing on its current iteration, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22 and 23.
Quarantine isn’t the first III Points challenge. It’s dodged hurricanes and the infamous Zika outbreak, and the crew knows how to pivot, but it’s all worth it to see this city’s talent up on a pedestal.
PHOTO BY ADI ADINAYEV
“Championing the live music scene has become the first and most important mission of the festival. We are the only major music festival in the world that puts more than 50% of our lineup as locals. We’re proud of the people that we see on that lineup because we’re hoping that they become the Miami exports to the international music scene.”
When III Points launched in 2013, Sinopoli and his crew were looking to plant a flag for Miami’s counterculture. Wynwood was still a little sketchy after sundown, but they felt the lightning in the area’s burgeoning bustle, so they set up shop in Mana warehouses—at that point reserved for film and sound studios. They filled the lineup with South Florida DJs, bands and performers and then stacked the headliners with international talent.
Stages and art installations at III Points 2019 PHOTO BY ADI ADINAYEV
Eight years and seven festivals later, Wynwood has transformed into a second Miami Beach, and Live Nation has invested in the III Points brand. Still, the festival manages to maintain its DIY aesthetic and independent spirit.
As unique as the city it champions, III Points puts a dark and sensual twist on the usual music fest vibe. Running from 5pm to 5am, the all-night party is set to a soundtrack of hip musical acts across genres. Glowing art installations, a witchy atmosphere and fun activities—like the famous on-site roller skate rink—keep attendees engaged around every corner.
This year’s lineup includes cool rock outfit The Strokes alongside legendary hip-hop crew Wu-Tang Clan, and top-tier electronic artists Rüfüs Du Sol, Eric Prydz, Jamie XX, Kaytranada, Zhu, Black Coffee and Peggy Gou.
PHOTO BY ADI ADINAYEV
If the lineup skews heavily toward dance, it’s because the organizers have their roots in that scene. Sinopoli is also well known about town as one of the co-owners of Club Space downtown, but with additional performances from psych-rock trio Khruangbin, crunk rap icons Three 6 Mafia, irreverent improv “loop daddy” Marc Rebillet and more, there’s truly something for everyone.
“I’m able to build a lineup that has substantial ticket value and also doesn’t lose its soul,” Sinopoli says.
View this post on Instagram
Curation is key in all aspects of the fest. Sets are planned with a flow in mind, and so are the stages and general decor. From the moment you walk through the III Points entrance pyramid, you’re immersed in a wonderland of weirdness.
Each year, III Points teams with a host of Miami visual artists and designers to craft cool hangout spaces, instagrammable ops and interactive “activations.” You might hop aboard a hippie bus and watch Washed Out from its spray-painted roof. Maybe you’ll catch a DJ set in a Gravitron, or spot your friends under a sea of hanging eyeballs.
“The footprint is a walking, living installation,” Sinopoli says. “We give an artist a room and say, ‘Here’s the intention of this stage, here’s the sound that’s going to be on the stage, here’s the vibe of how we see the stage. Create something that can complement that.’ Then we leave them to it. That’s the other edge that III Points has over other festivals. We’re not just a tent. We have elements that create an artistic atmosphere and intersect with the sound.”
PHOTO BY ADI ADINAYEV
Every year is different, but this year, III Points is poised to be larger than ever before. Its physical space has expanded, which means even more room for you to stumble upon small alley parties and hidden rave caves. Wherever you spend the luring hours, you can be sure you’re getting the full Miami experience, and the person dancing next to you might just be in your new favorite band.
“I just feel very grateful to be in this city during this time,” Sinopoli says. “I think we all should be grateful that we live in this awesome place—and with this festival being so Miami; every vendor, every person working and playing for the most part being from Miami—it should be a celebration for the community.” @iiipoints
Photography by:
