“April is the cruelest month of the year,” said T.S. Eliot at the beginning of “The Wasteland,” a poem describing our culture in the early 20^th century.  I say April is festival month in Texas this year. Rod Kennedy’s Kerrville Folk Festival has given new meaning to Memorial Day and Labor Day. The Old Settler’s Music Festival, April 19-21, and Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival and Chili Cook-off, April 24-27, now help define April. Celebrate the rites of spring at Texas music festivals.

  The Old Settler’s is celebrating its 15^th year at a new location:  Salt Lick Pavilion & Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, Texas (minutes from Austin). Billed as the finest in Americana music—bluegrass, folk, blues and jazz—the festival also benefits Austin Sunshine Camps, the Capital Area Food Band and the Women’s Advocacy Project. Randy Collier is heading up the team, and the music plays rain or shine!

  The lineup this years includes a Friday show with Michelle Shocked, Del McCoury Band, Karen Abrahams, The Waybacks, Bluegrass Undergrass, Railroad Earth and Tony Furtado. From bluegrass to blue punk this evening will be remembered for a long time. Michelle Shocked does have roots in East Texas folk, and her stint with a major label gave her the opportunity to hone her sound. When last we talked, she was working on a collection of gospel songs, a la Shocked. Her first real recognition in the world of  record labels occurred when The Campfire Tapes (recorded around the campfire at the Kerrville Folk Festival) caught the attention of Polygram Records. She did three albums with this major label and then took artistic control back into her own hands. Her performance is always compelling.

  Bruce Hornsby brings his eclectic and captivating sound to the stage Saturday, along with Peter Rowan, Terri Hendrix, Monte Montgomery, Darden Smith, The Siekers, Flounders Without Eyes, South Austin Jug Band,  Jim Hurst and Missy Raines, and The John Cowan Band with Vassar Clements. Another great lineup.

  The gospel music on Sunday features the South Austin Gospel Choir, Caroline Herring (an astounding talent that I heard for the first time at South by Southwest this year), Two High String Band and Ruthie Foster. Ruthie just visited my English class at Schreiner University in Kerrville, where she shared her story. Seems her journey in music began in a Missionary Church in a small community in Central Texas. The range of her voice, the rhythm of her songs truly reflects the gospel roots found in many Texas songwriters. Billy Joe Shave and Willie Nelson certainly have those stories to tell.

  Check out their website at www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org

  Larry Joe Taylor, songwriter and performer, decided to start his own gathering of Texas musicians 14 years ago at Mingus, Texas, with three acts on the stage besides himself. The festival now has a permanent home in Meridian, Texas, and the program book he produces is a “souvenir edition” this year. The program alone is another book on Texas music, including the old, the young and the restless.  If I weren’t teaching at the time, I’d be in front of that stage every minute. Look who’s calling:  Guy Clark, Charlie Robison, Steven Fromholz, Bruce Robison, Cooder Graw, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Terri Hendrix, Rusty Weir,  Django Walker, Adam Carroll, Reckless Kelly, Tommy Alverson, Davin James, Gary P. Nunn, Joe Pat Hennen, Owen Temple, Ed Burleson, Brian Burns, Mike Blakey and more.

  Larry Joe Taylor is a rare breed of musician; he also knows how to run a business and produce events! He is the owner of Boat Folk Records, produces three music festivals (one a cruise to the Western Caribbean), and writes songs that have been recorded by Gary P. Nunn, Jerry Jeff Walker, Tommy Alverson, and more. His son, Zach, plays in his band, along with Jon Inmon (Lost Gonzo fame). His first experience with the Kerrville Folk Festival in the 70’s “hooked” him on songwriting for life. Larry Joe is an important part of the story on Texas music.  Plus, he and his wife, Sherry, are real nice folks!  

  Other information I’ve gleaned from the LJT program book this years includes a list of radio stations that play Texas music, a list of other festivals around the state, a description of radio shows on Texas music and good bio’s on all the performers. The Texas Songwriters Radio Showcase on Humble Time (www.humbletime.com) conducts live tapings from 2-6 p.m. at The Freiheit Country Store just North of New Braunfels.  Hard Country Radio with Bruce Kidder can be found on the net at www.hardcountryradio.com. The ads also tell you where to get your instruments fixed, where to shop for Texas music, where to travel for the best in Texas music. October 10-12 is the Tommy Alverson Texas Music Family Gathering at Tres Rio just outside of Glen Rose. LJT has an Island Time Festival in Port Aransas July 4-7 (http://www.larryjoetaylor.org). 

  These two festivals bring new energy to the rites of Spring. T.S. Eliot may have been talking about one way to experience April, but Randy Collier and Larry Joe Taylor rewrite the story of a possible wasteland into the story of laughter and love around a campfire, the gathering of friends and fans, the reminder that the more things change the more they stay the same. Celebrate Texas music in April this year.

  On Thursday, April 4, Leonard Peltier sued the FBI for protesting his bid for clemency with President Clinton.  Details in that letter outline a conflict of interests. Free Leonard and down the road.

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com

www.texasheritagemusic.org

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