Exclusive: Disco Donnie Forms Joint Venture With So What?! Music Festival Promoters Third String

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Prominent electronic music producer Disco Donnie Presents and Dallas-based So What?! Music Festival producer Third String have partnered to form a new company, Disco Punk.

The partnership extends Disco Donnie Presents’ footprint in Texas, with Third String’s So What?! and Unsilent Night joining long-running events including Ubbi Dubbi, Freaky Deaky and recently DDP acquisition and New Year’s Eve event Lights All Night.

“I’ve been watching Mike and Orlando’s success at Third String for a long time, and we’ve always talked about working together,” said James “Disco Donnie” Estopinal, Jr., referring to Third String founders Mike Ziemer and Orlando Mendoza. “So What?! will allow two independent promoters like ourselves to join forces, and I’m excited to take this step in partnering with them under the Disco Punk name to diversify the musical offerings from both Third String and Disco Donnie Presents.”

Paired with the partnership announcement are the official dates for So What?!, which is to take place at Dallas’ Fair Park on June 24-25.

Third String launched So What!? in 2008, with the eclectic event being early on soon-to-be stars like G-Eazy, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Showcasing artists in punk, hip-hop, metal and more, the event’s headliners have included Rae Sremmurd, Simple Plan, 100 Gecs and more.

“Donnie is an innovator. Whether it’s his festivals in the States or the Festication events he does in Mexico, Donnie knows how to throw a party,” Ziemer tells Pollstar. “The way he treats his team, the artists, and the fans, is why DDP makes the perfect partner. We have a great product, a large fanbase, and now it’s time to expand on that with additional input and guidance.”

So What?! 2023 appears to be just the start of the Disco Punk collaboration.

“I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t bring the event to other locations where Donnie has seen success or even new markets that are underserved in the festival space,” Ziemer adds. “This festival is much larger than just Texas, we sell tickets in all 50 states and dozens of countries, so the market is there and ready.”

Estopinal will also be taking part in a Pollstar Live! panel in February, titled “Knowing When To Pull The Plug Or Sweat It Out.” Click here to see the schedule and register to attend.