Six From Austin To See At the 2016 Old Settlers Music Festival

Six From Austin To See At the
2016 Old Settlers Music Festival 

By Sean Claes 

For the last 29 years, the Old Settlers Music Festival has been bringing some of the best bluegrass and jam bands to this area. It has grown into the Austin Area’s premiere family-friendly music and camping festival. 

The 29th Annual Old Settler's Music Festival is coming to Driftwood, Texas on April 14-17, 2016.

If you’ve never been to OSMF the video (posted below) is a pretty nice introduction. If you’ve attended one in the past, you know the magic and enjoyment that comes with your wristband. Heck, you might be featured in the video. 

  
Video by Happened by Chance Productions 
Song: Light & Love by The Infamous Stringdusters 

For 2016 it’s 4 days of music at Camp Ben McCullough and the Salt Lick Pavilion in Driftwood, Texas (Thursday and Sunday being at the Campgrounds only). 

Past artists include Guy Clark, Fred Eaglesmith, Railroad Earth, Peter Rowan, Joe Ely, Ralph Stanley and Robert Earl Keen. 

This year brings a stellar line-up. National treasures like Jerry Douglas, The Lonesome River Band, Rodney Crowell and The Del McCoury Band are featured alongside some great popular current acts and up-and-comers like Dawes, The Wood Brothers and The Milk Carton Kids. 

But me, being a lover of local music, the stand outs for this Music Festival above all others is the wealth of Austin-area bands that are featured. After taking a look at the line-up this year, here are 6 local bands you don’t want to miss during OSMF this year. 


Hayes Carll
Friday, 8:40pm - 9:55pm, Hill Country Stage
  

Awesome to have Austin music playing a late-night show at OSMF and Hayes Carll is a solid choice for that slot. 

Carll is a singer-songwriter that is been compared to Townes Van Zant and Jerry Jeff Walker. He was awarded Song of the Year for “Another Like You” by American Songwriter in 2011. He also penned “Chances Are” which was nominated for a 2016 Grammy (performed by Lee Ann Womack). 

I have been a fan of his since I heard "Good Friends" and "Long Way Home" from his 2005 album Little Rock but it wasn't until he co-wrote "Drunkin Poet's Dream" from 2008's Trouble In Mind that I really started following him with interest. 

He releases his 5th studio album, Lovers and Leavers this Friday (April 8, 2016). An album I'm quite interested in checking out. I'll probably pick a copy up at the OSMF sales tent. The song I posted for him is from the new release.



Carolyn Wonderland

Saturday, 3:20pm - 4:20pm, Bluebonnet Stage 

She has been compared to Janis Joplin for her voice and her brand of Texas Blues Rock, but Carolyn Wonderland is a musical island in and of herself. 

In her 25+ years of being a musician she’s won over many a fan (including Bob Dylan) and when she moved to Austin from Houston in 1999 she laid down solid roots. 

In 2008, her solo album “Miss Understood” solidified her as a leading female voice in her genre. She’s been awarded with best female vocalist in both the 2009 and 2012 Austin Music Awards and is part of all-female super group Sis Deville and the charitable super group Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers. 

Make it to the Bluebonnet Stage on Saturday for her set. You’ll thank me later. 



Shinyribs


Saturday, 7:15pm - 8:30pm, Hill Country Stage 
Sunday, 4:00pm – 5:00pm, Campground Stage  

Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell is a musical anomaly. I’ve seen him perform by himself with just a mandolin, with The Gourds (now defunct) and with Shinyribs. Each iteration of what this man does is amazing. 

He writes some fantastic stomp-your-feet-and-dance music that marries zydeco and Americana. 

Those who are unaware of who he is may know him from a couple of cover songs he’s done, “Gin and Juice” (with The Gourds) and “All About That Bass” (Shinyribs) where he’s taken popular songs and reimagined them as Americana…. But that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the talent that is Russell. 

Check out his set… and I dare you NOT to dance. It’s almost impossible. 



Bob Schneider 
Saturday, 10:50pm - Midnight, Hill Country Stage 

OK, I love that Bob Schneider is headlining the Hill Country Stage on Saturday night. 

You never know what you’ll see when you go to a Schneider show… what iteration of their catalog… what performer will show up… the radio friendly fun-loving Bob.. the heart on a sleeve songwriter Bob… the Joe Rockhead Bob, Ugly Americans or Scabs Bob. And the bonus is.. they are ALL amazing and memorable. 

He can control a crowd with the best of them… and it’s worth sticking around late into the night just to hear about a thousand people yell “TARANTULA!” 

Note: The only other musician from Austin that gives me the same feeling is Guy Forsyth. He’s not playing this years OSMF.. but still.. check him out. 


Sunday Line-up: 
Shinyribs, Band of Heathens, Milkdrive 
 Sunday is my favorite day at Old Settlers. It’s contained within the Campgrounds and there are far less people attending since most of the folks who attend the weekend are on their way home or otherwise occupied. 

It’s really a camper’s special with a few stragglers mixed in for good measure. And you never know whom you’ll see in the audience. 

There are five bands playing on Sunday, three of which are Austin acts. I’ve already written about Shinyribs so I’ll focus on the two others.

 

Band of Heathens 
Sunday, 1:20pm – 2:20pm, Campground Stage  

Band of Heathens are seven albums into their decade-long career and have solidified themselves as a premiere local band. They formed in 2005 when founding members Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist shared a stage at Austin’s now defunct club - Momo’s. 

They were awarded the Americana Music Association’s best band honor in 2010 and in 2013 the “Alternative Root” featured them in the top position in their top 50 Americana Bands. Local boys have done good since being awarded best new band in the 2007 Austin Music Awards. 

They’ve got hundreds of live recordings floating around, and their last studio record is 2013’s “Sunday Morning Record” which made it to the number 2 spot in the Americana Charts. 

I’m going to do my best to book-it from church to make it back to the Campground for them. You should too. 



MilkDrive
Sunday, 2:40pm – 3:30pm, Campground Stage  

Ray Benson (Asleep At The Wheel) has said that MilkDrive includes “some of the finest musicians in the world.” Big words from the legend, and Brian Beken, Dennis Ludiker, Noah Jeffries and Jesse Dalton can back that statement up. When you see MilkDrive, expect an instrument swapping, high energy amazing show. It amazes me they aren’t playing on the big stage on Friday or Saturday, but that is one of the things that make OSMF so special. 


There is no “throw-away” day. Even the campground shows are things of legend (You’re missing out if you don’t check out The Accidentals and the Jitterbug Vipers on Thursday at the Campgrounds) -- I hope to see you out there. It’s the perfect weekend to recharge your batteries and see some amazing music. If you see me, be sure and give me a high five. 




Here is the complete line-up:

2016 OLD SETTLER’S MUSIC FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

(Artists and times subject to change)

THURSDAY, APRIL 14

Camp Ben McCulloch Stage

4-5:15 p.m. – The Accidentals

5:40-6:55 p.m. – The HillBenders

7:20-8:40 p.m. – Jitterbug Vipers

9:05-10:20 p.m. – Brothers Comatose

10:45 p.m. to midnight – Della Mae

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

Hill Country Stage

4-4:45 p.m. – Joelton Mayfield

5:15-6:25 p.m. – The Black Lillies

6:55-8:10 p.m. – Rodney Crowell

8:40-9:55 p.m. – Hayes Carll

10:30 p.m. to midnight – Dawes

Bluebonnet Stage

4-5:15 p.m. – Della Mae 

5:45-7 p.m. – Deer Tick


7:20-8:35 p.m. – The HillBenders present “The Who’s Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry”

9:10-10:25 p.m. – The Suffers

10:45 p.m. to midnight – Jeff Austin Band

Discovery Stage

5-5:45 p.m. – The HillBenders

6-6:45 p.m. – Kent Finlay, Dreamer book reading and signing by Jenni Finlay

7-7:45 p.m. – Della Mae (songwriting)

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

Hill Country Stage

11-11:45 a.m. – The Deer

12:05-1:05 p.m. – Lonesome River Band

1:25-2:25 p.m. – Green River Ordinance

2:45-3:45 p.m. – Dustbowl Revival

4:05-5:20 p.m. – Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester

5:40-6:55 p.m. – Sarah Jarosz

7:15-8:30 p.m. – Shinyribs

8:50-10:20 p.m. – The Del McCoury Band

10:50 p.m. to midnight – Bob Schneider

Bluebonnet Stage

10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. – Youth Talent Competition


1:30-2:30 p.m. – Sierra Hull

2:40-3 p.m. – Youth Talent Competition winner


3:20-4:20 p.m. – Carolyn Wonderland

4:40-5:50 p.m. – David Ramirez 

6:10-7:20 p.m. – The Jay Farrar Trio performing songs from Son Volt’s Trace

7:45-8:55 p.m. – The Jayhawks

9:15-10:25 p.m. – The Milk Carton Kids 

10:45 p.m. to midnight – The Wood Brothers

Discovery Stage (Presented by The Bluegrass Situation)

2-2:30 p.m. – The Earls of Leicester

3-3:45 p.m. – Sarah Jarosz

4-4:45 p.m. – Sierra Hull

5-5:45 p.m. – Lonesome River Band

6-6:30 p.m. – Del McCoury Band

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

Camp Ben McCulloch Stage

10-10:45 a.m. – Sunday Service

11-11:45 a.m. – Lonesome River Band

noon to 1 p.m. – HONEYHONEY

1:20-2:20 p.m. – The Band of Heathens

2:40-3:30 p.m. – MilkDrive

4-5 p.m. – Shinyribs