Larry Joe Taylor’s Fest — Almost here!

Rusty Wier’s black hat and guitar, 2010 Festival

The following article  is directly from the New York Times newspaper of 4/22/11, written by Robert Hoinski.To view it on that newspaper’s Web site, click here.  Then, read Larry Joe’s comments at the bottom. Don’t forget to check out the line-up in either the Festival or the Live Music calendars!

My own note:  LJ talks about “on-site correspondents.” I will be one of those, adding daily comments and pictures here on SceneIntown.com

“STEPHENVILLE

“Real Texas Music

“Texas music can mean two different things: music that comes from within the state’s boundaries — from Bun B to Townes Van Zandt to the Polyphonic Spree — or music that is derivative of country. This will be the 23rd year that Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival & Chili Cook-off has perpetuated the latter with a Kerrville-meets-Terlingua vibe.

“Mr. Taylor was a rising singer-songwriter who, instead of waiting to get an offer to play a festival, befriended all the right singer-songwriters, including Rusty Wier and Jerry Jeff Walker, and started his own. Watching him perform this year, between sets by the likes of Joe Ely and Ray Wylie Hubbard, will be an inspiration to aspiring musicians and concert promoters alike.

“The best way to make friends at the fest is to bring marshmallows for late-night jam sessions around the campfire. Imagine stumbling upon Guy Clark, Pat Green and Doug Sahm, as Mr. Taylor did at 4:30 one morning in 1997. Might your definition of Texas music then be solidified?”

Melody Mountain Ranch, April 26-30, various times.

From Larry Joe:
The largest 5-day outdoor Texas Music Festival in the state will be celebrating year #23 beginning Tuesday, April 26, through Saturday, April 30, at Melody Mountain Ranch just outside of Stephenville, Texas. An anticipated crowd of over 45,000 traveling from all corners of the U.S. (including Hawaii & Alaska) and as far away as Australia, will enjoy a lineup of over 50 of the best bands and singer songwriters in the nation.  The Larry Joe Taylor Festival was honored to receive a mention in this Friday’s edition of the New York Times and to receive the 2011 “Music Festival of the Year” awarded by Texas Regional Radio. National recognition will continue this year with daily reports from onsite correspondents & producers from XM Outlaw Country.