Five days, two stages, and 48 performers made Larry Joe Taylor’s 24th Annual Texas Music Festival one of the best ever. Here is the lineup from Larry Joe’s 2012 Music Festival.
Allsups Stage
Tuesday
- Larry Joe Taylor, deryl Dodd, and Dave Perez in the round – what a fun way to start the festival – great songs, lots of bantering back and forth, and plenty of laughs from three talented guys
- Bruce & Charlie Robison – we’ve seen Bruce and Charlie individually several times and loved it, but to see them playing together is a rare and very special treat and even better was them playing a medially of their biggest hits – not too many of us weren’t singing along with every song and as Charlie said “its hard to one-up each other” because they both have so many fantastic songs
- Hayes Carll & The Poor Choices – another favorite, Hayes Carll brings together a fiery rock, twangy country, pensive folk, and even a touch of gospel in his sets
Wednesday
- Thom Sheperd – Thom Shepherd is an accomplished performer but best known for over 60 songs he’s written and have been recorded by the likes of Kevin Fowler, Gentry Montgomery, George Jones, and lots more – several made it to the #1 spot on the charts
- The Dirty River Boys – raw vintage talent, a ballsy temperament, and just the right amount of dirty faith thrown together along with a lively rock show
- Ray Wylie Hubbard – just thinking about his humor and unusual and unique songs brings a smile to my face
Thursday
- Zac Wilkerson – Wow, Thursday kicked off with a winner. Zac Wilkerson was original and outstanding with his self described “genre schizophrenic” with his eclectic mix of country, gospel, blues, soul, and rock – easy to understand why he was the 2011 Blue Light Live Songwriter Showdown
- Chuck Pyle – Chuck Pyle has had an inspired career of over 40 years with several radio hits and music that is part cowboy and part new age and reflects a mystical connection to the American West landscape with his nakedly beautiful voice and flowing and complex guitar work – he’s a great story teller and one of the nicest and most sincere guys we have met
- Richard Leigh – Richard is an award winning (CMA Song of the Year, Grammy awards in both the Pop and Country Best Song category) singer songwriter that’s had hits in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s
- Keith Sykes – he’s played in Jimmy Buffet’s band, has written songs that have sold over 25 million copies, and has contributed to artists who names are always on the seating charts at the Grammy Awards – great songs and great sense of humor and he got the crowd standing as he sang a sweet lullaby to LJT’s new grandson, Luke
- Davin James – his dynamic performance quickly embrace you with his soulful Gulf Coast blues, electrifying Southern rock, and deep hard roots country and someone said it well: “his guitar playing is as amazing as his unique voice, but if you tied those fancy boots together, he couldn’t hum a tune”
- Gary P. Nunn – it doesn’t get much better than a set from this West Texas Hall of Fame entertainer – we always leave his set singing “Home with the Armadillos”
Friday
- The Winner of the Ranch Singer Songwriter Showdown – Marina Rocks had a good acoustic set of epic story telling delivered with a fire in the belly ferocity – a great way to start the day and let the head clear with some good music
- The Damn Quails – wow, the Damn Quails & the Quail Philharmonic band were fabulous and put on a show that filled the stage with talent and a sound that made all of us stand up and take notice of music styles that ran the spectrum and included most every instrument you can imagine some of which included a squeeze box, saxophone, keyboard, and fiddle – can’t wait to see these guys again
- Josh Weahters & the True Endeavors – a powerful army of talented musicians took us through an exciting set with R&B, funk, rock, and soul with a passionate and energetic performance leaving us wanting more
- Clay McClinton – he weaves a sound of his own that’s been called honky-tonk, Americana, and Texas roots that seems to bring out emotions and moods in his audience
- Max Stalling – you can’t help but love Max and his smart, charming, and listenable songs
- Radney Foster – revered in the music community as a lyricist and a dry West Texas poet with songs that have topped the country, Texas, Americana, and AAA charts
Saturday
- Josh Grider – recognized as Newcomer of the Year at the Gruene With Envy Awards, Grider’s lyrics have impact and weight yet there is no hammering over the heard, no whining, no woe-is-me, or the world sucks
- Michael Hearne & SxSW – Michael is one of those must see and hear singer songwriters with country swing and Southwestern Americana music that earned him a nomination for Singer Songwriter of the Year for the 2012 Texas Music Awards
- Tommy Alverson – Tommy embodies all of the hallmarks and the mind set of the independent Texas country music movement with a great blend of country, swing, Tex-Mex, Southern rock, folk, and blues
- Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros – all I’ll say is don’t miss an opportunity to see this talented group of singers and musicians – a Texas Hill Country Super Group with five great singers and four outstanding songwriters (all of whom have their own records flush with recording credits) who are likened to outlaw country and classic rock
Bud Light Stage
Wednesday
- KHYI’s Battle of the Bands Winner
- Johnny Cooper – at the age of 23 Johnny has accomplished more than many musicians twice his age, having recorded two critically-acclaimed, full-length studio albums (and another in the works) and not one, but two live albums under his belt
- Cory Morrow – another favorite and Texas troubadour that didn’t disappoint with country rock that’s honky and rowdy in the tradition of some outlaws like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
- The Great Divide – back together in 2011, they deliver a high energy show with honest, original music that anyone can relate to
- Kevin Fowler -his music is “country with a bad attitude, an edge, and just beer drinkin’, hell-raisin’, good time music”
- Josh Abbott Band – their music reflects a deep western-swing heritage with a weighty Southern-rock air and Josh evinces a slight Steve Earle character that’s breathy, fiery, and intense
Thursday
- Mark McKinney – recognized as “The Entertainer,” Mark brings honesty, energy, home grown country, and a little bit of rock-n-roll to his shows
- Turnpike Troubadours – nominated for the Best Live Act for the 2012 Lone Star Music Awards, they play a combination of folk, country, Cajun, and bluegrass with stories of longing, humor, tragedy, and general life in rural America
- Aaron Watson – great songs and it’s not surprising that he is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year for the 2012 Texas Regional Radio Music Awards
- Wade Bowen – Wade plays and sings with intensity, passion, and fervent commitment about what matters in life
- Randy Rogers Band – a rousing set from The Randy Rogers Band closed a fun Thursday (it’s only Thursday? How will I survive two more full days of music, laughs, sun, food, and lots of cold beer?) and by the time he finished the front of the stage was still packed with cheering fans
Friday
- Charla Corn – a finalist on NBC’s Nashville Star and Fox’s American Idol with brains, infectious energy, boots, and a bring-it-on country attitude
- Six Market Blvd. – nominated for Best New Band for the 2012 Texas Regional Radio Music Awards these guys bring Americana music to a new level with influences from Country, Americana, and Rock & Roll
- Mike McClure Band – with a Red Dirt background Mike and his band play a combo of Rock, Screamo, and Shoegaze
- Roger Creager – another one of our favorites that never disappoints with his passion, energy, outstanding songs, talented band, and the trumpet, piano, squeeze box, and washer board playing
- Reckless Kelly – an award winning band that straddles the fence between country rock
- Pat Green – the ultimate entertainer and a long time favorite, Pat’s set was fantastic with a good mixture of old and new and a crowd pleaser when he concluded with “Wave on Wave”
Saturday
- William Clark Green – with honest and personal lyrics and real-life inspiring songs, it’s not surprising that Will is a finalist for the New Male Vocalist of the Year for the 2012 Texas Regional Radio Music Awards
- Cooder Graw – Matt’s back as Cooder Graw with a reunion tour and it’s like he never left with music that’s catchy and a performance that’s rowdy and energetic and when he plays “Susie” the washer board the fans go crazy
- Tejas Brothers – one of our favorites with an on-stage aura described as fun, funny, amazing, breathtaking, inspiring, original, and honest
- Brandon Rhyder – a tight, eclectic, and energetic band and an unmistakable voice that we love
- Deryl Dodd – Double D never disappoints with an entertaining show and has made a name for himself as one of the most authentic artists in country music
- Jason Borland & the Stragglers – they make country music for people who love real country music with fundamental values of the genre that are soulful, blue collar, defiant, truthful, and real
- Larry Joe Taylor – LJT writes and sings songs that form their own genre somewhere between the coastal atmosphere of Jimmy Buffet, the country feel of his idols like Jerry Jeff Walker or Guy Clark, and the world of rock and roll
Larry Joe and Zack, how are you going to top that for the 25th Annual Texas Music Festival? Can’t wait to see the lineup. Return to the review of the Larry Joe Taylor 2012 Texas Music Festival Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival Review.
Author: Mike Sharp
I have a passion for travel and outdoor activities, and now I'm enjoying retired life. I will continue my traveling, golfing, boating, and enjoying life all across the great state of Texas.
