For those of you who are counting down the days until Fort Worth’s first Untapped Festival on 4/20, you’re more than likely well aware of the quality and rarity of some of the 200+ craft beers being poured from more than 65 breweries. It’s clear that the beer selection alone is reason enough to get tickets. What seals the deal is the fact that Untapped is way more than just a phenomenal day of beer drinking – it’s a chance to catch some of the hottest indie bands, ranging from national acts to local favorites.

Just as craft breweries are pioneers in brewing innovation and experimentation, indie musicians and bands aren’t afraid to break some rules when it comes to blurring the lines between conventional music genres. Untapped’s organizers – Paste Magazine, Spune Productions, and local Dallas craft beer gem, The Common Table – clearly have hit on a pairing that’s so refreshing and so fitting that it’s almost unbelievable this event is not even one year old, having debuted in Dallas last September.

While I would normally spend my focus singing the praises of the 20 Texas breweries attending the fest, I got curious about the bands playing – was their interest in the gig based on their love of beer, or did they, like the organizers, view the fest as a means to foster collaboration between the craft beer world and the music industry? Read on to get the real scoop from the bands themselves.

Tennis – Guitarist Patrick Riley

Why they’re performing: This will be the first beer-centered music festival we’ve ever played. Microbreweries are a huge part of Denver culture and we have wanted to work alongside beer advocates for a long time. Now we get the chance!

How they view music & craft beer collaboration: I’m surprised this didn’t happen earlier. Obviously Pabst, Miller, and other huge breweries invested large sums of money into associating themselves with music, and it worked…for a few years. Though, I think people are over that and are ready for something carefully wrought that better resembles the music they are listening to. At the end of the day, making beer is just as much an art form as making music, and I’m glad people are acknowledging that.

What they’re drinking: We spend a lot of time visiting breweries all around the world when we travel. In fact, we are in the middle of working with Stillwater Artisanal Ales out of Baltimore to create a beer that compliments a song of ours. I don’t know what it is about the West Coast, but Lagunitas and Stone have been in our fridge for a long time. If we could afford Duvel, that would probably be in our fridge, too. Excited to meet all of them in person!

Dove Hunter – Bassist Chad DeAtley

Why they’re performing: This is the beginning of the “festival season” and it’s always fun to start that out with the beautiful weather and spring attitudes that come with it. We’ve played plenty of shows where one or two breweries were featured, but for this festival, it seems that the beer is the headliner.

How they view music & craft beer collaboration: Beer and rock shows always go hand in hand. Unfortunately, the beer part usually is made up of the familiar, cheap American, mass-made variety. This leads people to just guzzle and get buzzed. With this collaboration, there will be discussion; there will be curiosity in the form of trying new things and taking notes. I also think it will allow for a “happier buzz” from the festival-goers. I know that most of these brewers laboriously work towards putting love in a cup.

What they’re drinking: This is about the 20-year anniversary for my love affair with Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale, which brought me to the craft beer dance. I have been so jubilant about the recent brew explosion that has happened locally. I try to drink these whenever they are available: Peticolas Velvet Hammer and Royal Scandal, Lakewood Temptress and Hop Trapp, Deep Ellum Brewery’s Rye Pilsner and 2x Rye IPA Dreamcrusher (that stuff is made for the gods) and everything from Rahr and Real Ale. I get a little enthusiastic about good beer so there are too many to list, really. We all get pretty excited about trying new stuff too so maybe there will be hotel rooms involved.

Skeleton Coast

Why they’re performing: Untapped brings a large audience that doesn’t always make it to the late gigs we usually play. We love playing the larger stage events or anything closer to an arena because of our large sound.

How they view music & craft beer collaboration: I think the fest is great but it should honestly be centered on the music. It’s still going to be an awesome day.

What they’re drinking: We mostly drink Gin, but beer is fun as well. Most of us really don’t drink a whole lot honestly. But we are stoked to try new stuff that we don’t have here in Fort Worth.

Cliff + The Orbans

Why they’re performing: For one, the music lineup seems very eclectic, which is very similar to Fort Worth’s music tastes. In my opinion, it’s a very close representation of our city’s musical heartbeat, from Skeleton Coast, who are good friends of ours but also are making some terrific music, to Justin Townes Earle, who is a longtime favorite of our band. We’re very excited to not only be playing, but to be seeing the other artists on the bill!

How they view music & craft beer collaboration: It’s a pretty obvious connection. Musicians and craft beer makers are pretty much obsessed with their form of art and from my experiences, musicians love beer and beer drinkers love music. Indie beer plus indie music is pure heaven.

What they’re drinking: To name just a couple, Rahr and Revolver. When the band was first getting our start, we actually played at Revolver for one of our first shows. Really great beer and people over there. Revolver’s Blood and Honey is a favorite of pretty much our whole band and luckily for us, they’ve been quick to get it to our favorite watering holes. We are hoping to set a record for tasting the most craft beer in a day, AFTER our set, of course…

Sarah Jaffe

Why she’s performing: It seems to be more concentrated than most festivals, which I like. There aren’t a million bands playing, which makes it easier to watch any show and not feel overwhelmed.

How she views music & craft beer collaboration: I think it’s great. Beer and music! They’ve always gone together.

Somebody’s Darling – Drummer Nate Wedan

Why they’re performing: The quality of the beer is superb and the bands can’t be beat. We’re really excited because Deer Tick and Justin Townes Earle are two of our very favorite bands. Also, it’ll be our first time at Panther Island Pavilion, and we hear great things about that place.

How they view music & craft beer collaboration: It’s a collaboration as old as time as far as I’m concerned! I think it makes a lot of sense. Bands are all about helping bars and venues sell beer and it’s good to see fans start to really support local. Local bands and beer – can’t beat it.

What they’re drinking: I am definitely a craft beer guy. My go-tos are Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale, anything by the Victory Brewing Company, and Left Hand, just to name a few. I’m really excited to see Deep Ellum Brewery, Lakewood Brewery, and Peticolas at the fest. Also, we’re in Rahr & Sons backyard, and they’re one of Fort Worth’s best breweries with a great seasonal beer out right now. Long live music and beer.