Just outside Lockhart, the BBQ capital of Texas, lays a 150 acre spread that’s home to Old Settler’s Music Festival, which wrapped up this past Sunday. I had the pleasure of being there for almost all of the four-day event (five, if you count the open mic event on Wednesday night in the campground). They went with a new layout this year, with alternating stages instead of the previously independent timing. So with some endurance, you could catch every one of the 40+ performances. Here are some of the highlights I saw.
Festival Spirit – Lets start with the closer, Shinyribs. Nothing says party like Kevin Russell’s alter ego and a set that’s part carnival, part music, and part vaudeville show. It was guaranteed to send everyone home with a smile. Brennen Leigh did a great set on Saturday of her old-timey sound, including material from her recent EP with Asleep At the Wheel, and then came back Sunday with Women Of Western Swing that got the dancers out in force. The Youth Talent Competition always punches above its weight and this year was no exception, with Charlotte Blackmon taking top honors and a guaranteed set at next year’s event.
Horns Rule! Austin may be best known for guitar-playing singer-songwriters, but Friday was a soul and R&B kind of day. It started early with local favorites Sir Woman and Brownout, a spin-out of Grammy-winning Grupo Fantasma known for their brassy takes on Black Sabbath and Public Enemy material. Later in the day were performances from a couple of California’s premiere horn-laden bands, Dustbowl Revival and The California Honeydrops. Horns and woodwinds alike were even well represented in the late night campfire music circles.
Guest Artists A new feature this year was designation of an Artist-In-Residence, fulfilled by the legendary Del McCoury. Besides doing two separate sets with his own band, I got to see him sit in, well, stand-and-harmonize with Steep Canyon Rangers and Railroad Earth. He wasn’t the only one getting in on the guest appearance action. Peter Rowan tapped Los Texmaniacs as his backup band and in turn came in for a number during their set. The Tejano band also brought out Lifetime Grammy winner Flaco Jimenez for a couple of tunes. He was in fine form cracking Texas Tornado jokes about the windy day, and this being central Texas the crowd rushed the stage for him like teenagers at a BTS concert. I think the medal for this category goes to Del, though, for inviting several members of The California Honeydrops to complement his band. Bluegrass with horns was a first for me.
Although everything was a little wind-blown during the day, the weather cooperated nicely for the late, late night entertainment. There were acoustic sets in the hipster lounge setting of Zen City, and all kinds of options if you wondered around to catch the numerous campfire jams going on until almost dawn. It felt like the last two years didn’t happen and that just added to the enjoyment. Mark your calendars now for the third weekend in April next year.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.