Old Settler's Music Festival : Articles : Hardy Festival-Goers Weather The Rain

Hardy Festival-Goers Weather the Rain

Hardy Festival-Goers Weather the Rain

Thanks to all who attended the 2010 Old Settler’s Music Festival! We have the best audience – as well as the most dedicated volunteers and crew – in the world. It may have been a little soggy at times, but everyone had fun and heard great music.

As always, magic seems to happen at the campground. This year, lucky festival-goers saw and participated in a stupendous jam with Papa Mali and the Grateful Dead’s Bill Kreutzmann at Camp Bamboozle.

Highlights from this year’s festival were numerous. Thursday night’s campground show set the pace for the weekend’s bluegrass with the Alaskan band Bearfoot and those award-winning Infamous Stringdusters. Brave Combo sparked a dancing frenzy, and everybody went back to camp happy and exhausted.

Friday’s high points included electrifying – and rockin’ – sets by two bona fide Texas legends, Alejandro Escovedo and Joe Ely. Earlier in the evening, Ruthie Foster dished out a heaping helping of ebullient soul, newcomers the Trishas knocked everyone out with their four-part harmonies, and Alison Brown and Joe Craven delivered innovative banjo and out-there percussion (way out there).

On Saturday, a Texas storm couldn’t keep Patty Griffin off the stage; the show ran late, but she delivered an amazing set showcasing her highly acclaimed new gospel album (produced by none other than the great Buddy Miller, who turned in a stellar performance of his own earlier in the day). The sky cleared for the fascinating mix of bluegrass and sacred steel, respectively, by the Travelin’ McCourys and the Lee Boys. Meanwhile, over at the Bluebonnet Stage, the Band of Heathens sat on the edge of the stage and played acoustic for those who braved the rain. Later came another crowd-pleasing set by Seven Walkers, featuring the aforementioned Kreutzmann and Papa Mali.

Sunday couldn’t get any better with clear skies and a lineup that included Doyle Lawson, Austin mainstays the Gourds and the incomparable Fred Eaglesmith.

Many thanks go out to our audience, the volunteers, vendors and crew who all make Old Settler’s happen. And very special thanks go to all our wonderful sponsors: Public Citizen; Collings Guitars; Level Best Foundation Repair; Grateful Growers; Sierra Nevada; Pyramid Hefeweizen; Central Texas Bluegrass Association; Magic Hat; Treaty Oak Recruiting; Real Ale; University Federal Credit Union; Strait Music Company; KUT; KGSR; ME-TV and many others.

See you next year!