Every year about now I make a pilgrimage to Austin for a few days of listening to music. It’s not for SXSW. Instead I head out to Tilmon, about an hour southeast of town, for Old Settler’s Music Festival. It’s just the right size to where it’s easy to navigate, but there’s still enough of a crowd to get the festival feel. And being in the Austin music scene orbit means it punches above its weight in terms of getting a good mix of hot new bands and long-time crowd favorites. This year’s event is April 21st through the 24th.
This year they’re trying a new feature call Artist-In-Residence. The pathfinder for this will be none other than Del McCoury. Besides doing a set with his own group, Del is going to hang around for the weekend and sit in with other artists. Rumors are Leftover Salmon and Steep Canyon Rangers will be the recipients of a visit, but Del being the showman he is, I sincerely doubt he’ll limit himself to just a couple of appearances. He’s also going to do a workshop on Saturday.
Another thing not to miss is the Youth Talent Competition. Past winners include Sarah Grace, a semi-finalist on The Voice, and 4-time Grammy winner Sarah Jarosz. The kids are also mainstays of campfire jams after hours. A few Austin-based bands, including Grammy-winners Wood & Wire, had their first, or very early, public appearance at an unofficial/official late night stage. All of it adds up to about 12 hours of music per day, if your constitution is up for it.
A few years ago the Festival moved to its new home in Tilmon. Sitting on 145 acres of rolling Texas hills, there’s plenty of room for camping and parking–no bus rides needed. Another bonus is that it’s only about 20 minutes from Lockhart, the BBQ Capital Of Texas. Between the music, the location, the vibe, and the food, you can’t beat Old Settler’s Music Festival.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.