Music Festivals Set for April in Texas

Two music festivals of note take place in Texas in April — the roots and Americana-oriented Old Settler’s Music Festival in Texas Hill Country and the very eclectic Houston International Festival, which spotlights Ireland this year.

The 22nd Annual Old Settler’s Music Festival, slated for April 16-19 at the Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, Texas is not as well-known outside the state as some other festivals in the Austin area – and that’s part of its allure. Old Settler’s Music Festival also takes place during what’s usually the height of Texas Hill Country’s wildflower season, although few bluebonnets were in bloom several years ago (when this writer was there) due to earlier drought conditions.

Old Settler’s may not draw as many people as the SXSW, Austin City Limits and Kerrville music festivals, but it certainly does draw its share of stellar performers – and this year is no exception. Among those on the 2009 lineup are Texas’ own Robert Earl Keen, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Hayes Carll; Canadian singer-songwriter Fred Eaglesmith and Blackie & the Rodeo Kings; Grammy Award-winning Cajun musicians Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, plus Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, BoDeans, San Francisco-based jam band New Monsoon, and more. For bluegrass fans, the lineup also includes The Greencards, Travelin McCoury’s, The Gibson Brothers and Blue Highway.

In addition to concerts on four stages, there will be Saturday afternoon performance workshops, arts and crafts, a youth talent competition and children’s activities (including a petting zoo, pony rides, monster-slide, a rock-climbing wall and more), and lots of tasty barbecue.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org.

Now in its 38th year, the 2009

Houston International Festival, slated for April 18-19 and 25-26, will feature continuous music, dance and cultural performances on 12 stages in downtown Houston.

Celtic music and dance will take center stage, both literally and figuratively. Built over the reflection pool in front of Houston’s city hall, the festival’s Center Stage will feature performances by such artists as the young five-piece Irish traditional band Beoga, Irish–American favorites Cherish the Ladies, and gifted Scots Gaelic songstress and 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year Julie Fowlis.

An all-star team of the city’s champion Irish dancers also will perform each night. Acclaimed Irish fiddler Kevin Burke will host Irish sessions at the Irish Pub Stage. Regional Irish and Celtic artists, as well as acoustic Texas artists such as the Quebe Sisters Band, will join him and his trio – with a daily programming segment dedicated to Texas artists meeting Irish artists to demonstrate the Celtic connection to regional country, Cajun and Creole traditions. The ongoing ancestral connection between Ireland and the Irish in America will be honored The H-E-B Cultural Stage and the Gaelic Stage, where harps, bagpipe bands, story-telling bards, Irish step-dance lessons, cooking demonstrations and literary readings will be featured. Irish rockers The Blaggards, the Kildares and Needfire play The Chron.com Houston Stage. Chicano roots-rockers Los Lobos will host the festival’s “Celtic/Conjunto” finale on April 26.

Although Celtic music has a prominent place in this year’s festival, a wide array of music for every palette will be presented. Cajun and Zydeco bands, including Beausoleil, will play the Louisiana Stage. Flamenco, Mariachi, Ballet Folklorico, Conjunto, Salsa and Spanish Celtic music will be featured on the Latin Stage. A number of international artists, including noted South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela, will play the World Music Stage. And programming on the Texas Stage — featuring such artists as Marcia Ball, CJ Chenier and Terri Hendrix –- will recreate the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s salute to Texas music in our nation’s capitol.

For more information on the 2009 Houston International Festival, visit www.ifest.org.