Texas Music News

Cross Canadian Ragweed Touring with Dierks Bentley

According to an RPR Media press release, Cross Canadian Ragweed has begun touring with Dierks Bentley. Bentley's schedule confirms this.

Miranda Lambert Puts One on the Billboard Charts

Lindale, Texas, native Miranda Lambert put her first single on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart "Me and Charlie Talking" entered at number 42 last week. In it second week on the chart, the song moved up to number 40.

The album was the highest debut by a new artist's first single, an honor shared by Brad Cotter. (In May 2004, "I Meant To" also opened at number 42.)

Lambert was a contestant in the first season of "Nashville Star," where she placed third. She has released an independent album ("Miranda Lamber," 2001) and put two singles, "Somebody Else" and "Texas Pride" Texas music charts.

Reckless Kelly, Los Lonely Boys Headline Texas State Fair

Reckless Kelly and Los Lonely Boys played the Chevrolet Main State at this year's State Fair of Texas, held in Dallas. Both bands also played to enthusiastic crowds at the 2004 Austin City Limits Festival.

With their debut, self-titled album out and selling well and four Austin Music Awards honors ("Band of the Year," "Album of the Year," "Song of the Year" and "Best Rock Band") on their mantle, Los Lonely Boys continues their stellar year. The band took the Chevrolet Main Stage Sunday, October 10, 3:30 PM.

Five man rock roots band Reckless Kelly played a 3:00 PM time slot on October 3 at the Chevrolet Main Stage. Having opened a handful of shows for ZZ Top earlier this year, Reckless Kelly is enjoying success with their latest album, "Under The Table And Above The Sun."

Austin City Limits Music Festival Draws Biggest Crowd Yet

The Austin City Limits Music Festival 2004 drew it's biggest crowd, yet. With daily crowds estimated around 75,000, the festival drew a diverse group of music fans. 3-day passes outsold single-day passes. Despite unseasonally high temperatures in the 90's, the crowd was well-behaved, energetic, and there were few problems observed.

Fans enjoyed over a hundred singers, songwriters, and bands spread across 8 stages in Austin's Zilker Park. Talked about bands included Los Lonely Boys, Old 97s, Sloan, Elvis Costello, The Pixes, and Sheryl Crow.

2004 was the festival's third year.

Austin City Limits Music Festival Announces 2004 Lineup

The Austin City Limits Music Festival announced its 2004 lineup. 120 bands will be playing across eight stages September 17, 18, and 19 at Austin's Zilker Park.

Austin City Limits, a PBS program, features live American music and has been on the air since 1975.

Flatlanders Parting Company Again

The Mercury News is carrying an article in which Joe Ely hints there may be no more Flatlanders beyond September 2004.

The band, first formed in the late 1960s, disbanded the first time around in the early seventies. After regrouping in 1997 to record the soundtrack for Robert Redford's movie The Horse Whisperer, the band made an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman in 1998 and played to New York City's Central Park in 1998.

In 2002, The Flatlanders released Now Again on New West Records. Their newest album, Wheels of Fortune, was released earler this year.

According to their schedule, The Flatlanders have one more Texas date on their tour, playing at Cactus Theatre in Lubbock, Texas.

Cross Canadian Ragweed Become Partners in OKC Saloon

Cross Canadian Ragweed recently announced they have become business partners in Oklahoma City, OK, establishment Wormy Dog Saloon.

The Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 East Sheridan, Oklahoma City, OK, features a variety of acts, including such well-knowns as Deryl Dodd, Gary P. Nunn, and Cooder Graw.

Alan Haynes Planning New Album

According to the Alan Haynes web site, Alan Haynes will start work in September on a new album features several "featured guests.".

Just back from a European tour, Haynes has ten events scheduled for July and August, with several more lined up for September and beyond.

The camp was help July 11 through 14 this year. Visit http://www.crowelltx.com

For more information, visit the Wichita Falls Times Record News article.

Texas Music Hall of Fame Hopes to Open Within Four Years

Finally, a well-credentialed organization is moving towards building Texas' first statewide music hall of fame. The board of directors includes such notables as Former Governor Ann Richards, the executive director of Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, producer Terry Lickona ("Austin City Limits"), Ed Bass, Paul Hobby, the curator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Evan Smith (editor of "Texas Monthly"), and the director of the governor’s Texas Music Office. The effort is spearheaded by Wayne Miller.

The Hall of Fame will probably be located in Austin and is targetted to open in 2008. For more information, visit the Galveston County Daily News

Houston Marchman Profiled on News 9 San Antonio

News 9 San Antonio discusses Houston Marchman.

Don't Look for a Historical Marker Here

Bud Kennedy, of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, has a short piece on the historical significance of a vacant, now-overgrown lot off Akers Avenue in Fort Worth. The lot, which now belongs to former Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis, marks the spot where Willie Nelson took his first puff of marijuana.

The house, owned by Acie Lockwood -- a friend of Willie Nelson, is no longer there, but Kennedy was able to track down the lot's interesting history through county records.

Cheatham Street Warehouse Turns 30

The Cheatham Street Warehouse turns thirty years old this year. Located in San Marcos, Texas, the music hall aims to "develop, perpetuate and promote Texas music in its most natural state - the honky-tonk." *

Kent Finlay, part-time owner, opened Cheatham Street Warehouse in June 1974. Since then, such Texas music notables as Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Flaco Jiminez, Marcia Ball, Doug Sahm, Augie Meyer, Gatemouth Brown, Eric Johnson, Omar and the Howlers, Asleep at the Wheel, B. W. Stevenson, Lou Ann Barton, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Rusty Wier, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and many more have played to appreciative audiences in the corregated tin, long narrow warehouse set approximately 10 feet off a busy railroad line.

The Cheatham Street Warehouse provides live music every weekday 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM. On Wednesdays, catch Kent Finaly's Songwriters Circle. Visit http://www.cheathamstreet.com for more information, including driving directions and calendar of events.

Escovedo 101: Songs of Alejandro Escovedo

Randall Carpenter, Gordon Nicholl, Chris Houston, and John "Buck Cherry" Armstrong have put together a CD, Escovedo 101: Songs of Alejandro Escovedo, to benefit Texas singer-songwriter and playwright Alejandro Escovedo as he battles Hepatitis C. All profits from the 18-track CD and any related fundraising endeavours go to the The Alejandro Fund.

See Straight.com for more information or visit The Alejandro Fund directly.

Roger Creager Added to South Texas Music Walk of Fame

The South Texas Music Walk of Fame has one more star, that of rowdy country renegade Roger Creager.

The walk of fame, located in Corpus Christi, Texas, also sports Freddy Fender, Guy Clark, Selena, Bubble Puppy, and the Galvan Brothers.

Creager's latest album, "Live Across Texas," is set for release in September 2004 and he has a full schedule planned through the summer and beyond.

See News 9 San Antonio for more information.

"Texas Mafia" Turning Linden into Music Mecca

Don Henley of Eagles fame and Richard Bowden, who played with Roger McGuinn and later became one half of the country comedy duo, Pinkard and Bowden, are helping reshape Linden, Texas, as a music destination.

Linden, located in Cass County, east Texas, is now home to Music City Texas Inc., a non-profit organization created to promot Linden's musical heritage. Fundraisers by Jackson Browne, Bugs Henderson, Jo-El "King of Cajun" Sonnier, T. Graham Brown and Riders in the Sky, plus upcoming shows by Don Henley and others, Music City Texas, Inc. looks ready to take off.

Other initiatives include restoring the 1859 courthouse, which is the oldest continuously operated courthouse in Texas.

Read more at the Longview News-Journal.com.