Country acts are in abundance this weekend in Galveston County and leading the two stepping charge is League City’s 58th annual Texas Music Festival and Village Fair. The festival kicks off tonight and will feature nine bands in two days with Nashville’s Easton Corbin headlining Saturday night.
Now if Corbin is your kind of country then that’s fine but if you want to catch some real Texas Country then check out Micky and the Motorcars on Friday night.
Brothers Micky and Gary Braun, the younger brothers of the Braun brothers in Reckless Kelly, bring plenty of swagger and energy to their shows. Music runs in the Braun family. The brothers grew up in the Whitecloud Mountains in Idaho playing instruments and eventually played in a band with their dad, Muzzie Braun.
They should be well worth checking out.
Here are some of show’s across the county this weekend:
The Revelators will play at 6 p.m. at Centennial Park Pavilion, 2200 South Friendswood Drive in Friendswood, followed by Mike Reed at 7 p.m. Six Gun Keys will play at the 517 Bar, 3401 Gulf Freeway in Dickinson, at 9 p.m.
There will be an interesting show/book release this weekend when Richard Dobson takes the stage at the Old Quarter Acoustic Café on Saturday. Dobson, originally from Tyler, has knocked about quite a bit. A long time singer-songwriter who played with Townes Van Zandt in the 1970s and has cut numerous albums, Dobson spent some time as a roughneck out of Galveston.
He lives in Switzerland now but is back touting his memoir “Pleasure of the High Rhine: A Texas Singer in Exile.”
The book is a “travel-music-fishing memoir, it tells a story of inter-cultural love, adventures on the road, and making a new life by a storied river in old Europe” according to Dobson’s website. He takes the stage about 9 p.m. and if you are interested in songwriting and story telling this would be a good night to make your way down to the Café.
Up on the mainland you can catch some good Texas Country acts at the 4th annual Tails and Tunes Fishing Tournament. The tournament and music festival runs Friday and Saturday at the Galveston County Fair Grounds, 10 Jack Brooks Parkway in Hitchcock. You can see Bleu Edmondson headlining on the first night and Cory Morrow on Saturday.
Here are some of the other shows going on this weekend.
Galveston
Friday
Austin-based bluegrass and country singer Brennen Leigh will be at the Old Quarter Acoustic Café with Noel McKay opening at 8 p.m. The Blue Moon Rock Band will be at the Loading Dock at 9:30 p.m.
Houston alt-rock band Days Drive will be at Float Patio and Pool Bar at 8 p.m. Crow’s Cantina will feature Houston variety band Yelba at 9 p.m.
Radio London, which features Galveston County’s own Rufus Crowder, will be at the Holiday Inn’s B. Jigger’s at about 9:30 p.m.
Saturday
If you are in the mood for some reggae then check out Soulfiya & The Black Lung Crew at Captain Jack’s Beach Bar at 4 p.m. The Grand 1984 Opera House will host Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez with Special Guest Vikki Carr at 8 p.m. Get tickets here
For some country –rock check out Ray T and The City Crew at Woody’s Bar from 3 to 7 p.m. The Tomz Katz Band will be at Bobbie’s House of Spirits from 4 to 8 p.m. and then at Crow’s Cantina from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Marty Monte's Magazine will be at Crow’s Cantina from 4 to 8 p.m. Boo Shaaf will be poolside at the Hilton, 5400 Seawall Boulevard, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Mainland
Friday
Marty Monte's Magazine will be at the Green Parrot Bar & Grill, 2233 Bayshore Dr in San Leon. At the Galveston County Fair Grounds, Kathy Ross will open for Blue Edmondson at the Tails and Tunes festival. Ross takes the stage at 5:30 p.m. followed by Blue Edmondson at 9 p.m.
In League City, you can catch Soulfiya & The Black Lung Crew at Hugh & Jeff’s Car Wash & Grill, 1232 FM 646. The Galveston reggae band hits the stage about 9 p.m.
Robin Kirby will bring the folk, Americana music to the Bayview Duck in Bacliff, 3131 Highway 146, starting at 8 p.m. Boo Shaaf is about to release a new CD. The official release party is not till May 10 but he’ll be at Baachus Wine Bar in League City from 7 to 11 p.m. tonight.
Saturday
The Ezra Charles Band will play the Redfish Roadhouse in Hitchcock. The popular piano blues band starts at 3 to 7 p.m.
The Tails and Tunes festival features a long line up on Saturday. The Curtis Poullard Zydeco Band starts it off at 11 a.m. followed by Bri Bagwell at 2 p.m., Kyle Bennett at 4 p.m., Cody Johnson at 7 p.m. and Cory Morrow at 9 p.m.
I had a lot of fun listening to the Paul Ramirez Band last week. This Saturday you can this blues and rock band at Katie’s in Bacliff at 9 p.m. Country musician Ty Phillips will be at Shenanigans, 820 34th Street N in Texas City, at 9 p.m.
Bryan Shayne will be at the 146 Roadhouse in Bacliff. Jeremy Bradshaw will play Jackie’s Brickhouse in Kemah at 2 p.m.
If I didn’t list your band’s show send me an email at chris.gonzalez@gmail.com or post the information in a comment below.
There is plenty of live music to choose from this Friday and Saturday. I ended up getting sick last weekend, so I didn’t make it out to any shows in the county. Hopefully I can make up for it in the next couple of days.
If you are in the mid-county, you should check out the Paul Ramirez Band Saturday at Redfish Roadhouse in Hitchcock from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m for some killer blues/rock/funk/country/whatever sounds good. The trio is out of Houston and has a Wednesday night residency at The Continental Club. Along with the good tunes, the Redfish Roadhouse is also hosting a fundraiser for Habitat for Horses today and tomorrow.
On Friday night, Crow’s Cantina looks like the place if you are into rockabilly and blues. Houston based Snit’s Dog & Pony Show will take the stage at 9 p.m.
Let me know what show you recommend. If I didn’t list a show worth catching, leave the info in the comment section below. Also, feel free to send in pictures from show’s you catch this weekend and any recommendations you might have. I’ll add them in the next blog post.
Here are just some of the shows tonight and tomorrow:
In Galveston, Friday’s line up includes Texas City rock group Blue Moon Rock Band at Captian Jack’s Beach Bar at 5 p.m. Later that evening Matt O’Rourke from Las Angeles will play at the beach bar. O’Rourke hits the stage at 9 p.m. Snit’s Dog & Pony Show will be at Crow’s Cantina at 9 p.m. Stephen Bishop at Riptide Surf Bar at 9 p.m.
League City’s own Denovo will be at the M&M Restaurant and Bar at 7 p.m. The John Evans Band will hold down the stage at the Old Quarter Acoustic Café starting around 9 p.m. Rapture will be at B. Jiggers Lounge. The Line Up will be at Yaga’s Café at 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Saturday, you can find Kevin Anderson and Brandon McDermott, from the Brandon McDermott band, along with James Sturrock, will be at the Old Quarter Acoustic Café starting at 8 p.m. The E.Nicole Band will be at The Loading Dock at 9:30 p.m.
Hard working Marty Monte’s Magazine will be at Crow’s Cantina at 4 p.m. Later in the evening, the Spiny Norman Band, a five piece party band out of Houston, will be bringing the tunes at Crow’s Cantina.
On the mainland, catch Myrna Sanders at Bayview Duck in Bacliff at 8 p.m. Friday. Loud Love will be at Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack at 7 p.m., while Pee Wee Bowen will be at T Bone Tom’s in Kemah at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, The Relics will be at Katie’s in Bacliff at 9 p.m. The Paul Ramirez Band will be at Redfish Roadhouse in Hitchcock at 1 p.m. In their second show in as many days, Denovo will be at Bacchus Wine Bar in League City at 8 p.m.
Miss the 80’s? The check out That 80z Band at the Kemah Boardwalk at 7 p.m. Billy Bourbon at Palapas in Kemah at 3 p.m. followed by Shaun Michael at 6 p.m. at Palapas in Kemah. Jeremy Bradshaw will be at Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack in Kemah at 2 p.m. Clinton Ashley will be at Tequila Mia’s in Kemah at 7 p.m. The Navigators will be at T Bone Tom’s in Kemah at 7 p.m.
In case you missed Marty Monte’s Magazine Saturday afternoon in Galveston, you can catch them at 9 p.m. at the R&R Sportsbar in Friendswood.
Last weekend was jam-packed with live music. This weekend is looking pretty good, as well.
I was only able to make it to the Turnpike Troubadours show last Friday (more on that lower in the post) but I heard the Kemah Crawfish Festival. Their three days of boiled crawfish and music was also a blast.
The live music continues at the Galveston County Fair and Rodeo with the Red Cap Band and Wayne Toups tonight and Jarrod Birmingham on Saturday night. Check out Friday’s Entertainment section in The Daily News to learn a little more about the Red Cap Band. The three guys in the band all have their roots in Santa Fe. Their music is what you imagine listening to as you drive through a small town in the afternoon with the windows down.
Here is a quick run down of some of the live music across the county:
In Galveston, the Old Quarter Acoustic Café is featuring Seth Walker Friday night. It’s a CD release party for Walker’s newest album “Time Can Change.” Saturday night, Saxophonist Evelyn Rubio will be playing with Al Staehely, former Spirit bassist, and John Staehely from Jo Jo Gunne.
Music on the island is really kicking up as the weather gets nicer. The Loading Dock will mix Galveston reggae, Soulfiya & The Black Lung Crew, with Friendswood rock, SunDrunk, on Friday night.
Friday night, you can also catch Starr Jernigan Band at Crow’s, rock, blues and country cover band Flip Side at B. Jigger’s and reggae with Cassette Tape at Yaga’s.
Saturday lineups include Gary Helms brining some country music to Melrose Pub, the Tony Vega Band at Crow’s Cantina, League City’s Threadbelly at The Beach Hut at 3 p.m., Aaron Navarro Band over at Woody’s Bar at 3 p.m. and Pirate Radio, a rock band out of San Francisco, will be at Yaga’s around 10:30 p.m.
A couple of bars in Texas City have country music on the bill. Shenanigan’s will have Push Water Band Friday night and Zack Stokes & Company on Saturday. Diamond Jim’s Country Saloon will feature Bryan Shayne on Friday night and Cheyenne on Saturday.
There is plenty to see and hear in the North County as well. Katie’s bar in Bacliff, which boasts live music every night of the week, will have Mitch Jacobs Band on Friday and Leonard “Low Down” Brown on Saturday. If you’re looking for music in Friendswood, look up R&R Sports Bar for some dance rock tunes from Madigan on Friday and some classic rock from Five –O- on Saturday. The Crypt Alive will bring the metal to Centennial Park in Friendswood.
Singer songwriter Andy Gullahorn will sit down for an up-close and personal show as part of the San Benave Concert Series at the Ted Akers Event Center in League City.
Like I said earlier, the Turnpike Troubadours show was a blast. They put on a really fun show and Kyle Nix on the fiddle was on fire.
Also impressive was lead singer Evan Felker’s ability to change a broken guitar string in the middle of a song while continuing to sing! I and some new friends, Justin and Michael from Houston-ish, were very impressed.
The band mixed their new songs, Before the Devil Knows We’re Dead and Wrecked, off their upcoming CD with songs off their previous albums. The best part of the night was probably when they played 7&7 followed by Devil Knows We’re Dead.
Look for my review of their new album, Goodbye Normal Street, in the next few weeks.
I’ll probably be at the Red Cap Band show this Friday. Where are you planning on going? I’m sure I missed some shows going on so post the info in the comment section below or send me an email at chris.gonzalez@gmail.com.
There’s been a lot of adjusting to do since moving to Galveston County from Austin. So, in an effort to settle into my new home, I’ve been trying to plug into the live music scene in county.
In Austin, you’d practically run into a musician or a live music venue on just about every block. Finding live music here has been a little more challenging. It’s always a thrill when I walk up on a thumping bass line and a wailing guitar.
This is my first blog post in a series chronicling my search for live music in the county. It’s a good time to start. There is so much live music across the county this weekend, it’s hard to know where to begin.
I typically prefer small bars and honky-tonks to large venues, but there is no getting around the amazing music line-ups at the county rodeo and two festivals during the next few days.
Starting up north, the Kemah Crawfish Festival will have two stages jam-packed with musicians. The Houston Blues Society has put together the line up for one of the stages. The second stage will feature zydeco and country.
$2 a pound crawfish, blues, zydeco, and Texas Johnny Brown — how could it get any better?
If you are down in Galveston and looking for some island themed music, then check out the first Ja-Ga Reggae Festival celebrating Jamaica’s 50th anniversary. The Jamaica Foundation of Houston is organizing the free festival along Harborside Drive on the lots from 20th Street to 22nd Street.
And, if you are in a boot scootin mood, I’d recommend making your way to this year’s Galveston County Fair and Rodeo. Whiskey Myers and Turnpike Troubadours play Friday night and the Josh Abbott Band hits the stage Saturday. If you are into Texas Country, that line up should have you putting on your cowboy boots and buttoning up your favorite pearl snap.
I’m still trying to decide what festival I’m going to hit on what night, but more than likely I’ll be at the fair and rodeo Friday for the Turnpike Troubadours show. The Troubadours are coming out with a new CD soon, Good Bye Normal Street, out May 8. Check out this Pogues’ influenced song on the new album Before the Devil Knows We’re Dead.
The Troubadours put on a great show, but there is plenty to choose from with so much music this weekend.
What shows are you going to this weekend?
Feel free to comment below or hit me up with an email at chris.gonzalez@gmail.com with information on other shows and bands playing in the area.
Sinbad is in town for a show at The Grand Opera House tonight at 8 p.m. but it turns out the comedian was able to fit in a quick music lesson earlier today. Island Music Galveston, a music store located at 407 25th Street in Galveston, posted a video on Youtube of Sinbad rocking along as local musician Walker Dearman plays Bill Withers’ song “Use Me.”
League City’s celebration of its 50th anniversary continued last Saturday with a gala at South Shore Harbour Resort. The affair featured the Ezra Charles Band, the Fuzion Contemporary Dance Company, a choir group from the Clear Creek school district and it brought together old and new residents of League City.
Many past mayors and council members were there as well as many of the city’s current leaders, said city spokeswoman Kristi Wyatt.
If you missed the gala, Wyatt said there are still more events coming up this year. There is an interdenominational Thanksgiving service being planned for later in the year. A time capsule is also being worked on and will be buried later this year to be reopened in 2037. If you want to be part of the time capsule follow the contact information at the city’s website.
Wyatt also said the city will be collecting and sharing people’s stories and memoires of League City throughout the year.
If you missed the night’s fun here is a chance to catch up. The first person speaking on video is state Rep. Larry Taylor, Wyatt said.
About Christopher Smith Gonzalez
Christopher Smith Gonzalez joined the Galveston County Daily News in July of 2011 as the North County reporter.
He covered the 82nd Texas legislative session for the Texas Tribune. His writing has been published in the Texas Tribune, the New York Times, Austin Monthly and The Daily News.
He previously worked as an archaeologist. His current work as a reporter is not that different from archaeology, Christopher says, only now he writes about living people instead of dead.
