Spring Music Festival – March 9 – 18

Spring Music Festival – March 9 – 18

The hills of Fredericksburg will certainly be alive with the sound of music this spring, but don’t expect to find Julie Andrews careening to the countryside or anything at all resembling “oom-pah” at the 2006 Auslander Spring Music Festival. On the contrary – What you will find is quite possibly the most talented lineup of Texas artists ever assembled in the Hill Country, or anywhere else for that matter.

“We started with the idea of having music every night during Spring Break” says owner Jeff Jeffers, who in two short years has transformed his traditional German restaurant into a haven for Texas music. “Obviously what we have now is a full-blown Texas music festival. Its going to be a lot like Bocktoberfest in Shiner, except we are spreading the fun out over ten days instead of just one.” Sponsoring this years’ event is Texas Rebel Radio 107.9 KFAN and New Belgium Brewing Co., makers of Fat Tire and Sunshine Wheat beers. KFAN will be broadcasting live over the airwaves and on the worldwide web each night of the festival, and New Belgium Brewing will be on hand providing plenty of refreshment for all patrons. The capacity of The Auslander is somewhat limited, so Jeff suggests purchasing tickets as early as possible.

The festival kicks-off on Thursday, March 9th with Texas music legend Gary P. Nunn. “We wanted to make sure that Gary P. was a part of our festival,” says Jeff, “and it was an easy decision to make when he was available on the first night.” Gary P. has earned several gold and platinum records for writing, publishing, and performing, and has been a pioneer of Texas country music for years. Some of his most famous songs include “What I like about Texas” and “London Homesick Blues.” Cooder Graw is a five-piece band from Texas that has generated a considerable buzz in the Texas Music scene in its seven-year history, known for their own unique version of loud, raucous country with the writing chops to make it great. When their song “Llano Estacado” landed in a Dodge truck commercial that frequently aired for many months of Texas TV stations, the West Texas band with the strange moniker suddenly became a household name across the Lone Star State. They will take the stage at The Auslander on Friday, March 10th.

Buster Jiggs takes the stage on Saturday, March 11. Their hard-hitting drumbeats, aggressive lead guitar, solid bass, smooth vocals, and heartfelt lyrics give this young band a sound like no other in the Texas Music scene. They have had the opportunity to share the stage with acts such as Reckless Kelly, Cory Morrow, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Randy Rogers Band, Cooder Graw, and Jason Boland and the Stragglers, and they have been recently nominated “New Artists of theYear” by GWE. Their self-titled second album, produced by Cody Braun and David Abeyta of Reckless Kelly, was released January 1, 2005.

Taking the stage on Sunday, March 12 is Sisters Morales. These two sisters (along with their band) have taken the Texas music scene by storm with their heartfelt lyrics and their unique sound. Their emotional, energetic shows have led to the development of quite a following around the state, and tickets to this show may very well be some of the most sought after of the entire festival.

You really can’t tell what you just saw after seeing The Bleu Edmondson Band perform live. Part concert, part circus, part revival, it’s an experience that will lift you up and gently set you back down with a smile on your face. Bleu describes his sound as “Country rock with Texas soul”. It’s music that gives a down home feeling to a country rock beat. The band stays true to this description with songs about good ol’ boys, the hill country, and the Southland, and their hit “50 Dollars and a Flask of Crown” is a true treat to hear live. Bleu and the band take the stage Monday, March 13.

Micky and the Motorcars have certainly racked up their share of miles on the road and they have no intentions of slowing down. Their music is proof that they’ll be around for years to come and the pure energy of their live shows is truly unmatched. Their latest release, “Aint In It For The Money” is quickly rising up the Texas Music charts, and the band has been touring across the nation with acts like Cross Canadian Ragweed, Reckless Kelly, Pat Green and Willie Nelson. They will take the stage at The Auslander on Tuesday, March 14.

Taking the stage Wednesday, March 15 will be the incomparable Darden Smith. Very few musicians in the world are as accomplished as this Brenham native. His musical accomplishments range from collaborating with some of the finest talent in the business to composing symphonies. Darden takes a more progressive, contemporary approach to songwriting and performing. “I definitely write songs from a Texas perspective, from that tradition of having a story,” he says. “I grew up learning to rewrite Guy Clark songs, and I’m very proud of that.”

Seth James’ voice is as powerful as his uncontainable blues aura. He performs on both sides of the finely drawn line between blues and rock genres, combining firmly planted blues roots with impressive rock riffs. It doesn’t matter what label you can stamp on it…it’s just plain good. He has quickly captivated listeners and fans, and has created a marvel in the meantime. Seth returns to The Auslander on Thursday, March 16.

Musical legend Shake Russell takes the stage on Friday, March 17 with special guest Walt Wilkins. “I don’t know if you could ever put two more influential songwriters on the stage at one time.” says Jeff. “Shake is a musical icon no matter what state you are in, and Walt is an amazing talent. We are truly fortunate to have both in our festival lineup, and it promises to be one of the best nights of music the Hill Country has ever seen (or heard).”

The festival wraps up on Saturday, March 18 with Honeybrowne, one of the fastest-rising acts on the Texas Music circuit. The band builds its sound from a roots music base that draws in strains of everything from classic and contemporary songwriter rock to the highest quality alternative and pop. With songs like “Texas Angel” and “Deeper Shade of Blue,” Honeybrowne captivates their audience with an infectious concert experience that leaves fans begging for more.

Tickets for the festival are available online for $12 at www.theauslander.com and can be purchased in person at The Auslander. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early due to the limited capacity of the venue.

– J.J. Stewart

Thur. March 9 Gary P. Nunn Fri. March 10 Cooder Graw Sat. March 11 Buster Jiggs Sun. March 12 Sisters Morales Mon. March 13 Bleu Edmondson Tue. March 14 Micky & The Motorcars Wed. March 15 Darden Smith Thur. March 16 Seth James Fri. March 17 Shake Russell w/ special guest Walt Wilkins Sat. March 18 Honeybrowne