Our Special Guest this year, Bob Will's Texas Playboys under the direction of Jason Roberts. They will play at the Saturday night Festival Dance. Don't miss this opportunity to see and dance to this great group of Western Swing pickers!!
This Brit from across the pond is making her mark on the Austin and Texas music scenes in a big way. She can do it all, lead guitar, vocals and songwriting! And she sounds very Texan when she sings a Western Swing song. Don't miss Ms. Sophia!
Want to hear someone playing an ace every time you present him with a song he doesn't know? Larry Eisenberg, bass fiddler, is one of the best kept secrets in Western Swing. Larry does the right thing when it comes to playing the bass. He is kind of a hidden jewel. He always feels the right groove and passes it on to the rest of the band.
Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition play at the Courthouse Stage Saturday afternoon and you need to be there!! Great dance music and always a fine show! He will also join the Hall of Fame Band at Smitty's during the first half of that set.
Hillary is really good at fiddling, singing, and really good at dancing. She brings them all together and brings joy and excitement and happiness to every song. Don't miss this opportunity to see and hear Hillary Klug, and her very special contribution to entertainment.
Georgia Parker and Big Cedar Fever will be playing at The PEARL, Lockhart's favorite bar, and at Kreuz Market and Smitty's Market. This gal can sing, and the way she plays guitar reminds you of Eldon Shamblin.
This is a photo from the Gathering a few years ago. We're hoping to see Al and Billy do a duet sometimes during the Festival. They will splitting a show at Smitty's on Saturday.
With one boot in Cowboy music and the other in Swing, and backed by a passion for traditional Western Swing, the Hot Texas Swing Band is riding the trail of bands like Bob Wills' Texas Playboys.
This fellow has to be one of the best drummers in Texas. Keeps a steady beat, Pretty much always does what he is supposed to do. If you have John you know you have half the rhythm section covered. A real pro. Sings pretty good also. HOF Inductee John Chandler.
Some of the three part harmony in the SSR. Ricky Turpin, Lonnie Atkinson, and Al Dressen as they sing harmony on Lily Dale. That's Larry Eisenberg on the bass fiddle.
Piano and fiddle man, HOF Inductee Danny Levin, Whoa, he can blow you away on both instruments. Plays with so much dynamic energy. Understands Western Swing and sings a great WS song also. We can all learn a lot from Danny.
Hey, that's Mark Kazanoff on sax, and Ronnie Stewart on rhythm guitar!
Known for his blues licks, Kaz plays sax with the best of them, including Western Swing. Plays fine, hot solos and has a great ear for playing parts. Another Austin pro. You're lucky if you have Kaz in the band. He cares about the bands overall sound.
Sophia was given the award for the Western Swing Female at the 2018 Ameripolitan Awards in Memphis Tennessee.
HOF Inductee and fiddler Howard Kalish. Howard has played with most folks in Texas it seems. He can sing a good song, and plays fine fiddle. He's also a real pro and people feel lucky to have him in the band. He adds positive energy, always.
Winner of the Ameripolitan 2019 Western Swing Group Award
HOF Inductee Neal Clausnitzer, drummer and vocalist. Neal knew when to play brushes and when to play sticks. He played many styles of music but shined in western swing. Dependable band member and a good man. Understands Western Swing.
Paul Glasse, a former HOF Inductee, makes his 32nd appearance at this event. He's really a great fellow that plays the mandolin like he was meant to play it. He and Al have many positive, fun and wonderful memories of making Western Swing music since 1882
That ol' Piano Pounder Floyd Domino will be back at the Festival once again. This guy knows Western swing and his playing helps to mold the song into something special. Don't miss Floyd's fabulous piano playing and his style and his smile. He'll make you feel good for at least a couple of weeks!!
Al Dressen's Super Swing Revue, also known as the BBQ Playboys when they are near BBQ!! The band has been playing Western Swing style since 1982 and includes steel, twin fiddles, sax, guitar, piano, bass fiddle, drums, sometimes a mandolin, 5 different vocalists, and good ol' 3 part harmonies. They take serious their effort of playing the Texas Playboy style of Western Swing. Al is proud of the band's sound and the friendship within. Nuff said!
Tony will join the show on Friday evening and perform a set at the Courthouse Stage on Saturday morning. Tony Harrison is worth the price of a ticket himself. Not only does he sing like you want to hear more, but he dresses and combs his hair very stylishly!! I know he'll be singing Sugar Moon.
HOF Inductee Lonnie Atkinson. This man has been around the block a time or two when it comes to playing guitar. He has experience playing about any style, but his favorite is Western Swing. He not only does things on guitar that makes the audience happy, but the band does a lot of smiling too. He 's a fine vocalist and likes playing parts and WS rhythm guitar. He should carry a card that says "Have guitar, will travel". Remember Paladin?
Want to hear the steel guitar played like it was meant to be played? Check out Denny Mathis. He'll lay it down for you. His playing makes you smile like you mean it.
Erik is a eyes wide open musician, yours and his. He does things that most others just don't think of. A very talented guitarist and fiddler. If you are a musician, he makes you want to play some more. If you are in the audience, he makes you want to stay longer.
HOF Inductee Al Dressen. He enjoys seeing people dance and loves making Western Swing music. And, those two things go together.
The Rollfast Ramblers. Just as Ft. Worth's Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies drew from many Texas regional genres to create the music known as Western Swing in the early 30's, the Rollfast Ramblers use the same influences. Old Time Fiddle, Dixieland Jazz, Polka, Conjunto, Honky Tonk, Country, and Blues are used to create their one of a kind sound.
Former HOF Inductee and a real professor of Western Swing, Joe is a guitarist who understands what it means to play rhythm guitar Western Swing Style more than most guitarists. Joe is a Texas Playboy!
Jason has career that includes playing with bands like Al Dressen, Don Walser, Asleep at the Wheel, and now his own Jason Roberts Band. Plus he has been named the bandleader to carry on the name of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys into the future by the Wills family. Congrats to Jason and may the force (Western Swing force) be with you. You are a great choice for this role.
Founded in 2000 by Anna Macias, this group of talented Lake Travis middle and high school students have learned to play Western Swing music. They play around the Texas Hill Country at public events and festivals and at private events. Take notice, you might need them one day.
Hillary will be busy doing her act at many of our stages during the festival. Be sure to check out this exciting performer. This is her first performance in Texas!!
Danny Levin and Floyd Domino!! These two boys can do it all. Danny plays piano and fiddle and Floyd plays the piano. Their combined knowledge on Western Swing and music in general is enough to fill up your gas tank so you'd never have to buy gas again! They are good people, fine musicians, and really interesting fellows. It is a pleasure to have them at our festival year after year. Thank you Floyd and Danny.
Texas Playboy Jerry Case, one of the world's great guitarists, will be performing at the Festival once again this year.