Writing this after that first fall snap….45 degrees at my house in the country. Feeding horses in wind and rain. Ah, a good old
Texas song comes to mind. I’m having a great time showing up at gigs with the women in my book.. After booksigning at
Hastings on October 27, I headed up to
Marble Falls to be with Marcia Ball at a new event, Sculpture on the
Main! 36 life-size pieces of sculpture were mounted along
Main Street in
Marble Falls for display and sale for one year. The day involved viewing the art, tasting wine and food from local restaurants from
5-7 p.m. Marcia Ball, a pivotal chapter in my book, played at the
Uptown Marble Theatre at
7:30. And her opening act, Garrett LeBeau, brought us some funk/jazz or some “cool” notes. I really loved his sound! Check here next month. And check out
http://www.historicmainstreet.org/ and
http://www.uptownmarble.com/ That last website gives a schedule for the Uptown Theatre, another cool
music venue. In fact, I stayed at the
Wallace House, right around the corner from the theatre. Now this historic guest house is perfect for that special getaway. My daughter and I stayed in the
Marble Falls room, and we found out later that the room did not like men! The manager told us that she hung a picture on the wall once, and it dropped each time she turned her back. A picture of men. Well, we loved that haunting story! I recommend this place, and, of course, we had breakfast at the
Bluebonnet Café. I know that the last weekend in March needs to be marked on your calendar. Bluebonnet Blues Festival is up and running with Blow and Cindy leading the way. Head to Marble Falls one day to view these outstanding sculptures. The creative mind at work. And don’t miss the music there. Mike Blakely has a home base in Marble Falls.
On October 13 I had a rousing good time at an afternoon show with The Texana Dames at Patsy’s Cowgirl Café on East Ben White in Austin. That kind of afternoon show brings out the true music lovers, and a party begins! This exquisite family, Charlene on keyboard with daughers Conni on guitar and steel and Traci on accordion with all the women singing, is one of a kind! I hope to go on tour with my book and with the Texana Dames. Need us for a show? Just let me know. John Reed on guitar and Paul Mills rounded out the family affair. This is the same group that toured Switzerland and Austria years ago. I followed along, snapping picture and taking photos. What fun.
Ahead is the November 7 Texas Music Coffehouse at Schreiner University (a THMF event with the Center for Innovative Learning at Schreiner) begins with a tribute to Native American History (now called American Indian, according to Frank Greyhorse Padrone) and a show by Walt Wilkins y Los Mystiqueros (Bill Small and Johnny Greenberg). Expect great songs, a lively performance, exquisite words and fun! Megan Padrone, Schreiner student, will kick off the evening with an American Indian dance. She is of the Apace White Mountain tribe, where her father, Frank, once lived on the reservation. Don’t miss this special evening. We will begin and end with a short open mike. Walt will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. The evening lasts from 7-9 p.m.
A new promo kit hit the THMF office this week, Jackson Taylor. Listen to these song titles: “Outlaws Ain’t Wanted Anymore,” Outlaw Women,” “Shallow Grave,” “Dark Days,” yep, I like the songs! The promo says: “Jackson Taylor tells stories about what he knows—life. Jackson’s songs paint tales of lives filled with passion and joy as much as of a life tainted by sorrow and disappointment—his life. Jackson sings of heaven and hell, beatury and grit—Jackson sings of real life. Maybe he’ll come through the Hill Country. Check him out. He’s played with Billy Joe Shaver, David Allen Coe, Kevin Fowler and more of the outlaws! I happen to like the look! Yes, you can tell a CD by its cover, sometimes. Billy Joe Shaver calls himself “a friend and a fan.” That’s good enough for me!
I am loving the new Sugar Hill release of a 1992 live show at the Bluebird in Nashville with his now deceased son, Eddie. “Billy Joe Shaver, Storyteller,” lives up to its title. I love the stories, the songs, the guitar riffs, the music. A classic in the Texas music lineup, this Cd captures the man and the magic. Time for Billy Joe to head back to the Hill Country!
I’ll be at the Texas Book Festival in Austin on Sunday, November 4, at noon in the music tent. And Ruthie Foster will be performing as we showcase my book of interviews. Her interview with me was originally 8,000 words! I had to do some editing, and she still commands a large part of the book. And she deserves it. I had so many extra interviews that I created a spot for the book to “continue” in cyberspace at www.kathleenhudson.net
The THMF is still conducting a membership drive for the 20th anniversary. With a larger membership we can raise more funding for interesting music projects. The Bard Project, managed now by Paula Reynolds of Hill Country House Concert fame, is putting musicians into the schools on a regular basis. So far Duke Davis played Peterson all day, Ken Waldman performed his poetry and fiddle music with Ingram Middle School. Lawrence Clarke went back to Ingram on Friday, Oct. 26. Richard Dobson, songwriter and compadre of Townes Van Zandt, will visit my classes on Thursday, November 8. YOU are invited to class. 10:50-noon and 2:40-3:55 on that day in Weir building, room 120. This songwriter now lives in Switzerland. He has a bag full of CD’s, a book and a newsletter that all express his creative vision. (see http://www.texasheritagemusic.org/)
Also ahead November 2-3 is a music festival at Bandera Downs with Tejano music on the second day. Great time to hear a classic Texas band, Little Joe Y La Familia. They last played Kerrville with Willie Nelson in 1997 to raise money for the Wayne Kennemer Scholarship Fund. And most recently I received a CD or class country performed by John Christopher Way, son of fiddler Johnny Way. Both father and son knew Wayne Kennemer as well! Janice tells me that Wayne used to talk about Little Johnny Way at age 4 playing a fiddle that was too big for him to hold. He once received our scholarship fund and this CD is a great example of his talent. He also recorded three songs by Gary Jones, another favorite of mine! More about this special CD next month! Seems a benefit for Big Brothers and Big Sisters is on the horizon for December 1 in the pavilion in Louise Hayes Park. An early show with stuff for the entire family! Tim Jones has taken on some management with this humble young man. If you like country music, you will love John Christopher Way! Be on the lookout for this young man.
Be sure to visit The Hill Country Calendar for events in Fredericksburg Texas, New Braunfels Texas, San Marcos Texas, Kerrville Texas and the rest of the Texas Hill Country.
Happy Trails and ils sont partis. KH
