Song Premier from Jamie Lin Wilson via TwangNation

[via TwangNation]

The old adage goes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Apart from their startlingly beautiful harmony the case of Texas’ country/folk quartet The Trishas might be the exception to the rule.

Last year Kelley Mickwee released her lovely ode to Memphis with her solo ‘You Used To Live Here.’ Now he have another release from Jamie Lin Wilson’s ‘Holidays & Wedding Rings.’ This follow up to her 2010 ‘Dirty Blonde Hair’ is firmly planted in Texas’ Hill Country in tone and in the impressive roster of some of Texas’ best songwriters – Jason Eady, Adam Hood, Mike Messick, Dani Flowers, Owen Temple and Wade Bowen. The latter who is co-writer with Wilson, and lends his vocals to, “Just Some Things.”



“Just Some Things” rides a waltz tempo perfectly timed to a flashing motel vacancy sign. Pedal steel softly wails as Wilson honeyed-timbre casts just the right shade of melancholy. Bowen counters with his weary baritone to fitfully complete this song of second-thoughts and near-misses.

Continue reading on TwangNation.com...

links:
Original full story on TwangNation.com
Pre-order on LoneStarMusic.com
Pre-order from iTunes

Video: Brandy Zdan - More of a Man

BRAND SPANKIN' NEW Brandy Zdan music video! I have to say I wasn't excited when I found out Brandy was going to be spending more time in Nashville and less time in the Austin area, but I have to say she's done some pretty cool things lately, and I'm VERY happy for her and I know she'll just continue to blow people away wherever she is! Check out this new video for her single "More of a Man" that was just released last month, then check out a bonus video that is a preview of her upcoming full-length album!

More of a Man:


Album preview:


links:
brandyzdan.com
Facebook/brandyzdanmusic
Twitter/brandyzdan
Brandy on YouTube

2015 Wade Bowen Classic

(press)

Award winning singer/songwriter Wade Bowen will host his 17th Annual Bowen Classic celebrity golf tournament and concert benefiting the Bowen Family Foundation on May 31st and June 1st, in Bowen’s hometown of Waco, TX. Wade Bowen and family established the Bowen Family Foundation, so funds raised from his annual charity event could be shared with many different organizations in need each year.  Over the past five years, Bowen has raised over a $1,000,000 for various local organizations in need.

“I truly love having the opportunity to help those in need, which is one of the many reasons the Bowen Classic is very important to me,” said Bowen.  “I've been very privileged over the last 17 years to have such dedicated and hard working friends and family to help contribute to the success of this event and The Bowen Family Foundation. I look forward to continuing my efforts to raise money for others, while having a blast doing it!”

The 2-day event kicks off with an all-star concert on Sunday May 31st at Indian Spring Park (100 University Parks Drive between Franklin and Washington Ave.) with concert gates TBD.  The annual benefit concert has a history of hosting top tier talent each year, however it is probably best known for the 2-hour jam that concludes the concert. Fans never know who all will show up to join Bowen and his band, for one-of-a-kind musical collaborations that always make the night uniquely special.  Some of the friends who have joined Bowen in the past have included Mark Chesnutt, The Randy Rogers Band, The Josh Abbott Band, Aaron Watson, Neal McCoy, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Cody Canada of the Departed, Cody Johnson, Charlie Worsham, The Casey Donahew Band and many more of Country Music’s most talented artists.  The event continues the next morning, Monday June 1st at 11:00 AM with a two-man golf scramble at the beautiful Cottonwood Creek Golf Course (5201 Bagby, Waco, TX).

Tickets to both portions of the event go on sale Monday February 23rd at 10am at www.wadebowen.com/classic and locally at both George’s Restaurant locations.  To golf in the tournament, registration is just $225 per golfer and includes two concert tickets along with golf merchandise, lunch, awards dinner and more!  Fans interested in the concert only, can purchase tickets for $20 in advance or $25 day of show, children 12 and under get in free.  There are also a limited number of VIP concert packages available.  For additional event information, visit www.wadebowen.com/classic

ABOUT THE CHARITY:
We believe that Music Heals. And for the Bowen Family Foundation, our focus is on healing children and families. We seek out and support the most impactful and effective ways to connect children and families with love, support, resources and opportunities to help get them on a path to a better life.

links:
Wade Bowen Classic
WadeBowen.com

Wade Bowen: Hungover

Listen to Hungover from Wade Bowen's upcoming self-titled album!

(via The Boot)

3rd Annual Blowin' Off Steamboat Music Festival

Artist Spotlight: Texas Renegade

Texas Renegade has been tearing up the highways quite a bit over the past year and we haven't seen them around the Wurstplex too much, but FINALLY that comes to at least a temporary end. This great local band made up of Andy Bertelsen and Tyson & Eli Carver has been together for the last 12 years; and they've booked monthly gigs at both Gruene Hall and Billy's Ice. At least 14 new songs have been added to their already impressive catalog as they gear up to release their next full length studio album "Surviving The Flood" on July 8. Below is a live performance of one of their new songs "Walking Away".



Upcoming local schedule:

Billy's Ice:
 • June 6
 • July 12
 • August 9
 • October 18
 • December 13

Gruene Hall:
 • May 22
 • June 26
 • July 31
 • August 28

links:
TXRenegade.com
Facebook
Twitter

Artist Spotlight: Seth James

Seth James grew up on the Moorehouse Ranch in King County near his birth place of Guthrie, TX. He was no stranger to dirt, hard work, integrity and common sense. Seth has an interesting heritage; while some people come from families with either clean or dirty backgrounds, Seth has a little of both. His mother's side was made up of cowboys, ranchers or lawmen, and his father's side were all outlaws or musicians. This may sound like a tough combination, in fact his parents split when he was in elementary school. The rough and rowdy upbringing in a bunkhouse on a ranch could produce a man of a variety of temperaments, but Seth is a kind, soft-spoken man with a strong work ethic, love for family and God-given musical talent that has been worked into something truly amazing. Seth went to school in Guthrie, and graduated both salutatorian and in the bottom half of his graduating class of two.

Musical influences come from many places, Seth's came mostly from listening to the radio which he did a lot, and any exposure to live music only came from watching country or Texas Swing bands at the rodeo. Seth picked up the guitar as a child, but mostly only played in the privacy of the bunkhouse until he finally played publicly during college. Seth rode his high academic honors all the way to Texas A&M. His father played drums in a house band where Bobby Mack played from time to time, and when going to see his father play he experienced two firsts; seeing somebody play electric guitar live, and seeing Bobby Mack for the first time. Bobby's presence and skill etched a love for the blues into Seth, and this love manifests itself when he takes the stage. Whether playing an acoustic set, playing lead guitar in a band or joining up with the likes of Bobby Mack, Rick Richards and Jimmy Hartman to do a full-on blues show, Seth clearly puts his heart and soul into what he does, and he makes it all look effortless.

While still in college, Seth played with some friends in what they called Black Rose Band, playing mostly covers of Charlie Pride, Ray Price, Haggard, Fogarty, Buddy Guy and many more. Over the years Seth wrote, played and recorded many of his own songs, played with Ray Wylie Hubbard then Cody Canada and The Departed, and of course while on this journey he married his wife Jessica and they had 2 boys together and now live in New Braunfels, TX. Jessica is still a part-time vocalist with Wade Bowen, and if you're lucky you can catch Seth and Jessica singing together from time to time.

Seth and Bobby have 2 more blues shows booked at River Road Ice House on Wednesday, March 19 and 26th, and hopefully more will come in the future. Here is a sample of the first installment of this blues series at River Road Ice House!


links:
Seth on Facebook
Seth on Twitter

River Road Ice House of Blues

So every once in a while a cool Wednesday night full band series will pop up. Chris King and the Liberators at The Phoenix Saloon and Tom Gillam's Kosmic Messengers at Gruene Hall come to mind... Well, Seth James recently departed from the awesome full band gig he had over the last 3 years and the first big public appearance (after Roots and Branches of Americana w/Ray Wylie Hubbard on KNBT 92.1fm sponsored by Spam and Rolos). He's doing 3 out of 4 Wednesdays at River Road Ice House. It's a HUGE full band blues show with his long-time friend and blues legend Bobby Mack. Rick Richards who was Ray Wylie Hubbard's drummer for quite some time before touring with Joe Walsh of The Eagles last year is joining the band on drums, and Jimmy Hartman formerly of the Jeff Strahan Band is on bass.

Here is some video from this week, they'll be back on March 19 and 26!

January in New Braunfels - Blowin' Off Steamboat

2013 wrapped up with its usual bang in New Braunfels with a big list of great New Year's Eve shows from Monty "Guitar" Tyler, Kevin Fowler and The Rankin Twins, Stewart Mann & The Statesboro Revue, Javi Garcia and Dustin Welch, Whiskey Rodeo, Tom Gillam's Kosmic Messengers and MORE! New Braunfels doesn't give you a "morning after" let down, New Year's Day has plenty to offer as well. Aaron Stephens, Guy Forsyth, Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros, Shinyribs, Tony Taylor and Slim Bawb and many more helped people recover not only physically, but also spiritually. Music definitely soothes the soul, and there was plenty of soul icing to help frost the 2013 cake you've been baking all year.

A new year brings New Braunfels an annual void of some of our talent that has planted their roots here, as the Dickson Productions' "The Music Fest" in Steamboat Springs, Colorado typically happens during the second week of January. Last year, TX Citizen and myself (Music of New Braunfels) built a local music festival from the dust of those left behind during "Steamboat", and we decided to take the concept of both building up a little jealousy of the folks that were able to go to "Steamboat", and a welcome home for the folks that were able to venture to Colorado for a week, so we called it the "Blowin' Off Steamboat Music Festival". This grew from a short evening conversation on Facebook into a fully planned and booked music festival in a period of less than 48 hours. Despite my inexperience and short tenure as a music blogger, we actually put together a really fun event, and managed to pull it off without too many issues. This year on January 18th at Freiheit Country Store we'll bring you full band shows by Tom Gillam's Kosmic Messengers, Aaron Stephens, The Groove Hounds, The Hillbilly Jug Band, The Captain Legendary Band, Slim Bawb and 2-Way Street. There will also be many great song swap sets by some of our finest singer/songwriters, as well as some amazing sets from locals such as Alli Mattice, TBA (yes, TBA) and many more! There is a full line-up on musicofnb.com as well as more information about the event, such as the fact that all proceeds are going to the New Braunfels Puppy Playland and that we have some very generous sponsors such as The Hippy Gypsy Boutique, Rambling Gypsy Productions, and M&S Engineering that have helped us start out with a nice donation to the NBPP folks before we even start.

January will also bring the sort of music we've come to expect in our fair community, such as shows from Kyle Park, Matt The Cat Trio, The Georges, Max Stalling, Chubby Knuckle Choir, Warren Hood, Jason Eady, South Austin Moonlighters, The Whiskey Sisters, Whiskey Rodeo, The Hillbilly Jug Band, Aaron Stephens and weekly appearances by a newly assembled (and amazing) acoustic group Tom Gillam's Kosmic Messengers. We will also see the return of the weekly radio broadcast Roots and Branches of Americana from KNBT. If you aren't familiar with this show, this is a brilliant piece of broadcast history where Mattson Rainer has talked Ray Wylie Hubbard into coming around weekly and interviewing amazing guests and swapping song with them for 2 hours. This has got to be the single coolest radio broadcast now or ever, and it's been happening for the last 12 years! March will be the 12th anniversary, expect something amazing!

New Braunfels truly is a unique community of writers and makers of song, and I am truly honored to be in their presence!

links:
2nd Annual Blowin' Off Steamboat Music Festival
Dickson Productions
Ray Wylie
KNBT

2nd Annual Blowin' Off Steamboat Music Festival

• What: Hippy Gypsy and Rambling Gypsy Productions Presents: The 2nd Annual Blowin' Off Steamboat Music Festival
• When: January 18, 2014 from noon to midnight (doors open at 11:30)
• Where: Freiheit Country Store
• How: $10 at the door

This year 100% of the proceeds are going to New Braunfels Puppy Playland to help build a leash free dog park in New Braunfels! We'll keep the music going all day, and Freiheit will serve sausage wraps and other items outside, as well as the great food they always have if you go inside. You HAVE to try their burgers, they REALLY are amazing! You are also welcome to bring your dog, just make sure they're on a leash for their safety!

Performance schedule:

 noon Wes Nickson, Haley Cole, Austin Gilliam and Anthony Mustaca

 1:00 Slim Bawb

 2:00 Mike Ethan Messick, Jeremy Steding and Chris King

 3:00 The Hillbilly Jug Band

 4:00 The Captain Legendary Band

 5:00 Jordan Minor, B.J. Thibodeaux and James Pardo

 6:00 Carol Cochran and 2-Way Street

 7:00 The Groove Hounds

 8:00 Al Barlow, Paul McLaughlin and Jon Magill

 9:00 Tom Gillam’s Kosmic Messengers

10:30 Aaron Stephens Band

Special performances throughout the day by Alli Mattice, Megan Ford, a young band called “TBA” and more!

Here is a recap of last January's Inaugural Blowin' Off Steamboat Music Festival

We would like to thank the "Gypsy nation" and M&S Engineering!
Thanks to the TX Citizen for all you guys have done to make this event happen!
And thank you to Freiheit Country Store for hosting our shenanigans for a second year!

Artist Spotlight: Rode Morrow of Hogg Maulies

If you're unfamiliar with the wealth of musical talent that originates from the Lubbock, TX area, you only have to do a couple of quick Google searches to realize that a fair amount of amazing talent has ties up north in Red Raider land. Some of our great local artists such as Wade Bowen and Wes Nickson that have made New Braunfels their home and have at one point called Lubbock home. Some other folks that have either frequented New Braunfels or influenced those that have such as Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Don Williams, Josh Abbott, William Clark Green, Delbert McClinton and Lloyd Maines (to name VERY few of many) have also been influenced by the music culture in Lubbock at one point or another in their life.

Rode (Ro-dee) Morrow of The Hogg Maulies is another such artist. Originally from Rotan, TX; Rode has spent many years in Lubbock since graduating from Rotan High School in 2001. Rode attended Texas Tech University and began writing music as well as playing and singing in local venues around 2004. With company such as Wade, Josh and Wes around, Rode was running in great and talented company. I asked Rode about the song "Whatever You Throw" that I had heard Wes Nickson sing many times before, but both had cut great but very distinct versions of in the studio. This was the first Wes Nickson single I heard on KNBT. Rode had started writing the song, and when he let Wes hear what he had so far Wes jumped in and they finished it together. Both artists have put different creative touches on the song, but the core remains the same great tune that has done really well for both Rode and Wes.

Founding members Rode Morrow and David Mullins (also of Rotan, TX) are truly "small town" boys that have been playing together in some form or fashion since about 2004. The original band name was FM 611, named after a road that leaves Rotan on the west side of town, and dead-ends into another farm-to-market road in the middle of nowhere. After some invaluable time playing together and renaming the band, they finally cut their first studio record "Here To Stay" and released it in 2007. They also put out a live record "Live at the Blue Light" in 2008 that they recorded, well, AT The Blue Light Live in Lubbock. After a few more years of songwriting, life and gigging wherever the gigs were, they put another studio record out in 2012, and several singles have spun off before and after "August Rain"; which is definitely the band's best work to date, with a new level of maturity evident in every song. While Rode and David have remained at the core of the band over the years, they have a large cast of talented Lubbock musicians that all rotate in the studio and on the road in each other's bands. 2013 has been a busy year for The Hogg Maulies, and with a studio EP, a live record and a solo acoustic project in the works along with an ever growing touring schedule it doesn't look like they'll be slowing down any in 2014. I suspect they wouldn't trade this brand of hectic for anything else, though.

The Hogg Maulies have started venturing into "The Wurstplex" more lately, and they're definitely making a name for themselves down here as they have up at their home in Lubbock. They are one of many great acts playing during Food Trucks for Freedom Festival this Saturday, November 16 from 1pm-11pm at Rockin' R River Rides in Gruene! Come see The Hogg Maulies play live, buy some merchandise from them, and check out all the great events and food for all ages this Saturday!

links:
Hogg Maulies on Facebook
Hogg Maulies on Twitter
HoggMaulies.com
Food Trucks for Freedom Festival

Preview: Food Trucks for Freedom Festival

Food Trucks for Freedom was founded with a single goal; empowering veterans to become successful entrepreneurs. Justin Harris is a veteran of the Marine Corps that is using his many years of experience growing businesses through good times and bad to help other veterans in the process of creating and growing new businesses. Paula Vacek has 15 years experience in business consulting, helping companies restructure for greater profitability and growth. Kyle Cummings is also a Marine Corps vet, who has had a successful sales career in the medical field. Kip Legler brings a business management background as well as many years of social services and marketing experience in the food industry. Together, along with the relationships they have built through business, they have they tools and experience needed to pull together an organization capable of undertaking this admirable charge of helping veterans take a positive turn in their own lives and futures by becoming successful business owners. With too few people venturing into private enterprise these days, the hopes of the gang at Food Trucks for Freedom is that they can have an impact on the business world large enough to move the dial and revive the entrepreneurial spirit in America.

The Food Trucks For Freedom Fest is the first of many events that will raise grant money and awareness of Food Trucks For Freedom. The day will start at 12:30 with a volleyball tournament, then move into live music at 1 with Hunter Maples, Josh Fields, Jennifer Sullivan, Wes Nickson Band, Mario Flores & The Soda Creek Band, Hogg Maulies then the headliner Charlie Robison! There will also be face painters, caricature artist, bounce houses, marching bands, local artists and the FOOD from the great food trucks of Pretty Thai for a White Guy, Bleu Bowls, Peachwave Frozen Yogurt, Teka Molino and Buffalo Wings & Rings.

"Our mission is to empower veterans to reconnect and transition to civilian life by partnering with, and mentoring them to become successful entrepreneurs. One of the biggest challenges that Veterans face upon separation from the military, is what to do for the next phase of their lives. I was in the exact same situation at one point in my life as well, so I can relate to all of the anxious feelings that Vets have when re-entering the civilian life. I finished my service to this country on August 18th 1998 and I’ll never forget the feeling of excitement and fear of starting that new chapter in my life. It was six months after my separation that I realized if I wanted to make the kind of money necessary to live in the civilian world, I was going to have to work for myself and build a business. I started this organization to help other Veterans avoid the mistakes made when starting a business by providing the necessary tools and resources to open sustainable turn-key operations with unlimited growth and earning potential."

AMA Award Nominations

Fresh off the heels of a great Lone Star Music Awards at Texas Music Theater in San Marcos, TX, we now have the Americana Music Assocition Award nominations! I love that this genre has developed to the point where the annual award presentations are getting more press, and the artists and their songs are getting more well-deserved recognition!  Most of these artists make regular stops in our area, and I'm plenty proud of them all, but I'll keep my preferences to myself for now.  :)

The Americana Honors & Awards show will be held on September 18, 2013 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to kick off the Americana Music Festival Sept 18-22.

Here are the 2013 AMA Award nominees...

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Buddy & Jim, Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale
Cheater's Game, Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison
From The Ground Up, John Fullbright
O' Be Joyful, Shovels & Rope
Old Yellow Moon, Emmylou Harris/Rodney Crowell

SONG OF THE YEAR
Birmingham - Shovels & Rope
Good Things Happen to Bad People - Richard Thompson
Ho Hey - The Lumineers
North Side Gal - JD McPherson

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Dwight Yoakam
Emmylou Harris
Richard Thompson

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
JD McPherson
John Fullbright
Milk Carton Kids
Shovels & Rope

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison
Shovels & Rope

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Doug Lancio
Larry Campbell
Greg Leisz
Jay Bellerose
Mike Bub

Click here for registration information if you wish to attend the Americana Music Festival and/or the Americana Honors & Awards show.

15th Annual Wade Bowen Classic

Wade Bowen has combined his big heart and love for golf into an annual fundraiser golf tournament that he holds each year in Waco, TX. The "Wade Bowen Classic" raises money each year for The Bowen Family Foundation that Bowen established to help support his favorite charities. This year it gets more personal for Bowen as part of the proceeds will be donated to the disaster relief effort in West, TX which is a neighboring community to his home of Waco, TX and a town where he spent much of his childhood including holding a job at a locally owned pizza restaurant and being the town where he played his "first real music gig".

This two-day event starts with a festival style concert on Sunday June, 2 featuring Wade Bowen and some of his friends including Josh Abbott Band, Aaron Watson, Neal McCoy, Cody Canada & Seth James of The Departed, Willy Braun of Reckless Kelly, Charlie Worsham, Josh Weathers and more to come! Gates open at 2:30 on Sunday and tickets are available online at wadebowen.com and in Waco at George's Restaurant. More information about the golf side of this event and more also at wadebowen.com!

Wednesday Night Shuffle: Chris King & The Liberators

GET READY!!!

NEXT week on Wednesday, May 8; The Phoenix Saloon begins a new bi-weekly series called "Wednesday Night Shuffle" featuring Chris King & The Liberators along with a special guest!

Chris' first of many EXTRA special guests will be ROB BAIRD! Yes folks, this is FOR REAL, full band entertainment with LEGIT guests every other WEDNESDAY at The Phoenix Saloon!!!

Here is Chris King & The Liberators from a show at River Road Ice House back on March 14, 2013

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Grit 'n Groove Fest 4

Ray Wylie Hubbard's 4th installment of his Grit 'n Groove Fest is coming to Whitewater Amphitheater on the beautiful Guadalupe River April 6th.

Ray Wylie Hubbard has assembled a group of bands that best communicates his personal taste in music. Last year Ray took the year off to promote his new album "The Grifter's Hymnal", but he's back again this year to bring you a sampling of his favorite acts! Here is the line up for the day which may not reflect the actual order of appearance. I have interviewed several of the bands in the line up and have posted stories about them below, there are more to come so check back regularly!

• Ray Wylie Hubbard
• Hayes Carll
• Ben Kweller
• The Dirty River Boys
• Wheeler Brothers
• Uncle Lucius
• The Trishas
• Sons of Fathers
• Dustin Welch

* story coming soon!

Tickets are available now at: whitewaterrocks.com

New Year's Eve 2012

There is an abundance of live music in New Braunfels and the surrounding area on New Year's Eve. Here is a quick run-down of your choices!

Gruene Hall: Stoney Larue
Billy's Ice: The Blooms with Tony Taylor
River Road Ice House: Kyle Reed Band
Freiheit Country Store: Jason Allen
Tavern in the Gruene: Midnight River Choir
The Phoenix Saloon: Javi Garcia
The PourHaus: Stewart Mann & The Statesboro Revue
Riley's Tavern: The Beaumonts with Shakey Jake
Texas Music Theater: Ray Wylie Hubbard with Uncle Lucius
Cheatham Street Warehouse: Doctor G & the Mudcats
Sam's Burger Joint: Mingo Fishtrap
The White Horse (Austin): Sons of Fathers

December in New Braunfels

December brings us shorter days along with longer, cooler nights; and local venues begin to keep overhead doors and window shutters closed in an effort to keep the temperature more comfortable for their patrons and live acts.  By the time December arrives, New Braunfels and Gruene are already fully decorated for the holiday season, and ready for city events like the Christmas Tour of Homes, Christmas Market Days, Wassailfest, Photos with Cowboy Kringle and more.  Another thing you'll find in December is no shortage of  great live music to choose from.

At Gruene Hall, we see the arrival of some December traditions such as Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, Gospel Brunch Christmas Edition and the 2nd annual Two Ton Tuesday Christmas Show.  Carolyn Wonderland and Guy Forsyth kick off December with their holiday roast, and any other Gruene Hall staples such as Bret Graham, Jason Allen, Ted Russel Camp, Jordan Minor, Tom Gillam, Ed Jurdi and Gordi Quist to name a few will fill the hall with great music.  Some will mix old and new Christmas tunes into their sets while also keeping the energy high to get the blood pumping and the temperature up.  You'll also find acts like Kevin Fowler, Jerry Jeff Walker, Charlie Robison, The Departed, Reckless Kelly, Roger Creager and Casey Donahue Band there during December, and even Stoney LaRue makes a return to New Braunfels for a special New Year's Eve show.

Billy's Ice House will feature many of our fantastic area musicians including Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Texas Renegade, Jeff Strahan, Mario Flores and The Soda Creek Band, Austin Gilliam, Jeremiah Houston, Daniel Thomas Phipps, 3 Man Front, Rob Baird, classic rock band Retro FX and many more.  The Blooms is a band that formed early in 2012 and is made up long time friends and New Braunfels residents Zack Walther, Allan Goodman and Matthew Briggs.  The band had an unexpected break in performing as a 3-piece when Allan was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix over the summer.  A benefit to raise money for Allan's medical bill's and expenses during his break from performing was held at Billy's Ice House in September.  Many amazing people came out and donated money, auction items, performances and their time and the benefit was a huge success!  After 2 surgeries, numerous treatments and a short break, The Blooms is back together and will be playing Billy's Ice House's New Year's Eve party!

River Road Ice House changed hands this year, and with that new ownership came more days open, finally the addition of a credit card machine and a much fuller live music schedule.  Cody Canada even brought The Departed to River Road Ice House for a CD release in November after a very long hiatus since Cross Canadian Ragweed's last visit there in 2009.  You'll see a RRIH debut of The Blooms, as well as sets from Foxmoor Express, Empty-Handed Vagabonds, 3 Man Front, Midnight River Choir, Jackson Parten, Mario Flores and The Soda Creek Band, Poor J Brown, The Damn Quails and more.  The Kyle Reed Band will be playing the New Year's Eve party and they never disappoint.

Other venues will have jam-packed lineups as well as big New Year's Eve shows, including Midnight River Choir at Tavern in the Gruene, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Uncle Lucius at Texas Music Theater, Javi Garcia at The Phoenix Saloon, The Beaumonts at Riley's Tavern and more.  The Brauntex Theater will have another in their "Greatest Hits Live" tribute series featuring The Coconuts of Wrath performing the hits of Jimmy Buffett on December 27th.

Check Music of New Braunfels often to see when your favorite bands are playing.  We'll continue to keep the most complete and up to date schedule around.