Old Settler's Music Festival 2018

31 Years in and A New Beginning

This may be the 31st year of Old Settler’s Music Festival, but this is a new beginning. Over the last year, the festival has moved from the Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, Texas to 45 acres of land they bought in Tilmon, Texas (Southeast of Lockhart).This is the 4th location for the non-profit Festival in its lifetime (It began in Round Rock and had a stint in Dripping Springs as well). This one is permanent.

Four Days. Four Stages. Almost three dozen bands. Camping. Arts & Crafts. Great people. April 19-22, 2018.

Full disclosure… those who are expecting well manicured campsites and five-star accommodations may be in for a shock. From what we’ve heard from some of the volunteers who are working many, many hours to get this site ready for the festivities, this is going to have the vibe of a first year festival environment. More primitive than posh...and this is something that we’re VERY excited about. We at INsite think the Old Settler’s family will have an amazing experience and will step up to the move and accept it with love.

That said, the music is something that Old Settler’s has always hit out of the park, and this year is no different. INsite looked over the talent and have compiled a list of bands you don't want to miss this year.

I'm With Her (California, Texas and Massachusetts)

I'm With Her is a folk band consisting of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donavan. They first met at a show in 2014 at the Sheridan Opera House then took off from there and were touring together within the next year. Sara Watkins got her start in 1989 as fiddler and founding member of the group Nickel Creek. Sarah Jarosz was 10 when she won old settlers music festival’s first Youth Talent Competition in 2002. Since then Jarosz career has taken off being nominated for five grammys and winning two. Aoife O’Danavan is best known as the lead singer for the band Crooked Still and as a member of the all female trio Sometymes Why.

I'm With Her has been very successful The New York Times has said “...when the three women sang together, their voices became one instrument, sharing every breath” and The Guardian has said "Together their sound is both ethereal and purposeful, a combination of searing musicianship and tender vocals." The song Game to Lose is a perfect showcase of their individual vocals melding together to make a beautiful sound. Also their cover of Adele's song Send My Love is a great example of how I'm With Her can put their original spin on any song. - Marlee Claes 
I'm With Her plays on Saturday at 8:40p on the Original Black's BBQ stage

Bob Schneider (Austin)

Anyone who’s been in Austin for a minute will recognize Bob Schneider, and anyone who’s attended Old Settler’s in the last few years probably danced to his music. Coming back for the 5th time in the last 7 years, Schneider is always a fun show to catch. The great thing about watching him perform is, you never know which dude will show up - since he has such a diverse deep vault of original tunes to choose from. One thing is certain though - it’ll be a great show and you have a 50% chance of yelling “Tatantula” before his set is through.
- Sean Claes 
Bob Schneider plays on Saturday at 10:45p on the Bluebonnet Stage

The California Honeydrops (Oakland, CA)

The California Honeydrops began their career in 2007 with guitarist, lead singer and trumpeter Lech Wierzynkski and drummer Ben Malament playing in Oakland subway stations. Their great vocal harmonies long with their New Orleans-style horn-driven blues has served them well through 6 recordings and numerous live appearances. They debuted at Old Settler's Music Festival last year and were one of the bands that made folks first stop in their tracks to see where that amazing sound was coming from.. then move their feet to the rhythm. You would be served well to catch them. - Claes 
The California Honeydrops play on Saturday at 5:30p on the Original Black's BBQ stage 

Ray Wylie Hubbard (Wimberley)

Although his name isn’t quite a household name, Ray Wylie Hubbard is a legend to a large cross-section of musicians and fans. It is for good reason that the last 20 years or so, Hubbard has been dubbed “The Wylie Lama.” He writes some fantastically dark and twisted, sometimes spiritual and often-times humorous songs. He will always be best known for penning the song Jerry Jeff Walker made famous in 1973, “(Up Against the Wall) Redneck Mother,” but his collection of recordings post-2000 (GROWL, Snake Farm, A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is no C, Tell The Devil That I'm Getting There As Fast As I Can) is what has solidified a career as a songwriter and performer. The bonus of seeing him live is, he is just about the most entertaining storyteller in the land. It’s no surprise that he is closing out the 2018 festival. - Sean Claes
Ray Wylie Hubbard plays on Sunday at 4:20p on the Campground Stage Jamestown Revival (Magnolia) 

Jamestown Revival’s Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay grew up together in Magnolia, Texas. They worked together on their first song at the age of 15. They launched individual careers, but then came back together to focus on their harmonies. Named Jamestown Revival based on the concept of leaving the old and starting anew. The band's music inspirations come from storytellers. Some musical inspirations are Louis L'Amour, Willie Nelson and John Prine. - Marlee Claes 
Jamestown Revival performs on Friday at 7:00pm-8:15pm on the Original Black’s BBQ Stage. 

Frankie Leonie (Austin/Richardson) 

One of the best things about Old Settler’s is, it gives today’s youth a chance to get up on stage and maybe even be discovered. In 2002, a band called The Spurs Of The Moment won the Youth Competition featuring a 10 year-old by the name of Sarah Jarosz (see the write-up for “I’m With Her” below). Sixteen year-old Frankie Leonie was the runner-up in last year’s Youth Competition. It would do you well to plan on making it to her set at 4p on Friday. - Sean Claes
Frankie Leonie opens the Original Black's BBQ stage 4:00p on Friday

Wade Bowen (New Braunfels)

Wade Bowen hit in the early 2000s when his brand of Red Dirt Country was making an emergence in the Central Texas music scene. He climbed to national prominence in 2012 when he had a hit single with “Saturday Night” and his 2015 Hold My Beer Vol. 1, an album of duets with Randy Rogers. He’s about 18 years into his career and it seems he’s hit his stride with Solid Ground, which released in February. One can look forward to hearing some of the classic Country-tinged Bowen tracks alongside tracks like the mariachi-influenced “Day of the Dead” and perhaps even a rocking Black Crowes cover (he performed “Jealous Again” when he played The Mohawk in Austin this past February). - Sean Claes
Wade Bowen plays Saturday at 9:10p on the Bluebonnet Stage

Possessed By Paul James / 3% Milk (MilkDrive, The Deer and The Greencards) - At the campgrounds only
Friday night’s line-up at “Camp Shhhhtimes” - the late-night jam that campers are treated to. The 2a performance by the one-man band Possessed by Paul James (aka Konrad Wert) AND a compilation of local(ish) Austin bands The Deer, MilkDrive and The Greencards. It's going to be amazing for those who are awake and woke enough to witness. - Sean Claes
This Camp Shhhhhtimes event begins at 2a on Saturday Night (Sunday morning?)
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So… last thing.. How do you get to Tilman? Well, you go to Dale. The physical address is “1616 FM 3158, Dale, Texas 78616” as Tilman is quite literally a one building town 10 miles southeast of Lockhart. Follow this link to find out how to get there - link