Originally published on The Amp, Giant Noise's LinkedIn newsletter. Event details are as originally published.
Giant Noise News
Welcome to The Amp, your go-to monthly dispatch for all things Giant Noise, alongside Industry Notes, an insider’s digest of marketing and public relations campaigns and industry trends making our heads turn.
This April, it’s time for Art Week in Dallas, a peek at must-have handbags, Fiesta in San Antonio, and an incredibly popular polo match for a great cause in West Texas. Plus, Industry Notes: A look at what really happened at SXSW this year, March Madness marketing, and Substacks we love.
The Dossier
Dallas
When Dallas Art Fair debuted 18 years ago, it helped give rise to what's now known as Dallas Art Week. Now a true contender in the global art world, Dallas swells with gallerists, artists, and collectors during the fair weekend (April 16-19). More than 90 galleries from around the world, including 17 from Texas, open their doors at Fashion Industry Gallery in the Dallas Arts District. Our must-sees: a gorgeous Rick Owens white marble table in the Carpenters Gallery Workshop space and anything by John McAllister, the recipient of the inaugural Dallas Art Prize.
Courtesy of John McAllister and James Fuentes Gallery
Austin
Texas-born fashion and lifestyle brand Consuela has launched its spring collections, channeling warm-weather feels and butterfly gardens into handbags that brighten everyday. Highlights include the Teal Breezy Fringe in vegetable leather, the Paloma Your Way Bag with hand-whipstitched florals, and the crystal-studded Sidney Wedge. Our top pick: the limited edition HOLA-LOVE Classic Tote a nod to the first Consuela bag sold in 2006 (coincidentally also the same year we were founded!).
Courtesy of Consuela
San Antonio
Get ready! Fiesta San Antonio is April 16-26, and here are the Giant Noise San Antonio office’s must-dos.
Attend “A Day in Old Mexico,” a charreada celebration (April 19 & 26)
Attend “Cornyation,” a satirical and spicy stage show (April 21-23)
Attend the Flambeau Parade, America's largest illuminated night parade (April 25)
Eat a chicken-on-a-stick (get yours at any Fiesta event)
And don’t forget to stop by all your favorite local spots to get their Fiesta medal to add to your collection!
Breckenridge
Get your boots ready to stomp some divots! One of UT MD Anderson Cancer Center’s favorite fundraisers is back. The 40th anniversary of Polo on the Prairie, benefiting MD Anderson’s Patient Navigation Program, pairs polo with a performance by Parker McCollum. Held at Rancho Verde in Breckenridge, Texas, from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, the event brings in polo players from around the world for matches. Last year’s event brought in more than $1 million. Tickets start at $250 for adults and $50 for children 12 and under and can be found HERE.
Courtesy of Steve Butman Photography
Industry Notes
SXSW Surges On
Austin’s citywide festival may have looked a little different this year, with the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center. Yet the unflagging spirit of SXSW transcends any single venue, as evidenced by the unique mix of events we promoted for clients ranging from burgeoning beauty lines to travel destinations, CPG brands to tech thought leadership—and, of course, lots of music experiences! These included the launch of LONA Beauty, Visit Phoenix Presents: A Desert Alternative Showcase, Coca-Cola Sips and Sounds Music Festival, Manychat Creator Club/Hub, The Real Cornbread Mafia Launch Party, Luck Reunion + Potluck, and Austin Blues Fest & Antone's Forever SXSW 2026 Day Party. This year's slate reminded us why SXSW remains one of the most dynamic stages we get to work on — and we're already looking ahead to what we'll bring in 2027.
Courtesy of Giant Noise
Marketing March Madness
Time-sensitive marketing has evolved beyond major holidays and seasonal shifts to embrace cultural touchpoints like March Madness. We’re here to analyze which partnerships were slam dunks and which campaigns were blocked shots.
Wendy’s Dunks Menu campaign was rooted in a strong insight—that the restaurant’s fans dunk their fries into their Frosty—but whether the execution translated to in-app purchases remains to be seen. Marriott’s “Where Gameday Checks In” campaign featured real-world sports figures in parallel with hyped-up hospitality workers for ads that met the March Madness energy and showed off the brand’s unsung heroes. ESPN’s “Bracketbrain” commercials succeeded in satirizing much-derided pharmaceutical ads. But the standout March Madness marketing play came from BetterHelp, whose Mind Over Madness campaign unlocked 10 free hours of mental health support for every assist in the men’s and women’s tournaments.
Courtesy of Marriott