The Downtown Bryan Association announced the first round of confirmed bands for the 2015 Texas Reds Festival in September.
Amanda Reynolds, Program & Events Manager, said you will see the festival’s Texas-inspired theme throughout the music lineup.
“They all have some sort of connection to Texas, so we really try to incorporate the Texas theme into not just our wineries and steak, but also our music,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds said several more acts will be added to the lineup in the weeks leading up to the festival on September 26 & 27 in Downtown Bryan.
Below is a list of the 13 bands announced Monday, courtesy of the Downtown Bryan Association:
Bob Schneider
The Saturday night headliner at this year’s Texas Reds Festival is Austin-based musician and artist Bob Schneider. The former lead-singer of Ugly Americans, Bob has headlined major venues across the Lone Star State as a solo artist including Austin’s historic Paramount Theatre and Austin City Limits. His latest album, King Kong, harkens back to his earliest release (Lonelyland 2001) and invites music fans to dance, laugh and mourn together. This crooner’s performance will have audiences swooning with his smile and that special twinkle in his eye.
Bri Bagwell
Nashville songwriter, Texas Female Vocalist of the year (2013 & 2014) and road veteran Bri Bagwell calls the highway home with more than 120 tour dates per year. Miss Bagwell started her band, titled “The Banned,” in 2011 after a top 10 finish on CMT’s Next Superstar. If you haven’t heard her before, check out her breakout single and video “Whiskey” and her latest single “Crazy.”
Cody Canada & The Departed
Cody Canada & The Departed is a southern rock band focused on packing as much expertly curated song-craft into each show as possible. Former front-man of Cross Canadian Ragweed Cody Canada and his band channel the power chords and raw-bone ballads, which vaulted Canada into the status as Red Dirt’s biggest name. You may even hear a few classics like “Alabama,” “Dimebag,” and “17” in their set lists.
David Ramirez
Singer-songwriter David Ramirez knows no luxury; all he needs is an acoustic guitar and the words in his mouth to share his story. Ramirez’s career has spanned 2 full length albums and 3 EP’s, as well as touring for the last several years to many soldout houses. His 2012 album, Apologies, debuted at #2 on iTunes Singer-Songwriter charts, garnering praise from The New York Times, American Songwriter and PASTE. Hometown magazine Austin Monthly calls Ramirez “one of Americana’s great undiscovered songwriters…” His latest release is The Rooster EP.
El Tule
El Tule is for those who love to dance, feel good and enjoy the positive expression of music. For the last decade, the band has been honing its unique sound combining influences of Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa and Reggae – sharing the stage along the way with The Gipsy Kings, Grupo Fantasma, The Texas Tornados and many others. Their high-energy live show has made them a festival favorite all across the country and at SXSW.
Grupo Fantasma
Speaking of Grupo Fantasma, the nine-piece 2011 Grammy Award-winning Latin funk orchestra from Austin will hit the Texas Reds Festival stage too. Known for incorporating funk, mambo, merengue and cumbia, they are one of the most important independent acts in the Latin genre. In addition to playing major festivals and venues across the globe, the band’s music has been enjoyed in a variety of television shows including Breaking Bad, Weeds, Ugly Betty and Law & Order.
Jonathan Tyler
Jonathan Tyler describes his band’s sound as “rock with a twist of blues and country.” The Dallas-based musician and band promise a set filled with lots of good times. Their influences include Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Leon Russell, Ryan Adams and Waylon Jennings.
Katye Hamlin
Bryan-College Station native Katye Hamlin returns to Texas Reds Festival after performing at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and sharing the stage with country music legends Tracy Lawrence, John Conlee, Johnny Lee, Jack Ingram and more. She will perform songs from her recently-released self-titled EP including the chart-climbing hit “Love Is Like Rain.” Katye’s diverse taste in genres inspire her sound and songwriting – creating a unique, bluesy texture and tone. Influences include Bonnie Raitt, Faith Hill and the legendary Patsy Cline.
Roxy Roca
Austin-based band Roxy Roca is a powerhouse of southern soul with a gritty and infectious sound influenced as much by soul and funk legends of the late 60s as by early rock ‘n’ roll pioneers and early 70s psychedelic funk rockers. Founded by green-eyed front man and soul shouter Taye Cannon, the band enjoys a reputation for getting an audience to its feet and in motion with a sound that has been described as Dynamite Texas Soul. Brazos Valley live music fans got a preview of Roxy Roca when they played Downtown Bryan’s Summer Sunset Series earlier this year.
The Nightowls
Another veteran of Downtown Bryan’s Summer Sunset Series, The Nightowls is a ten-piece band that uniquely blends vintage and modern soul music with high-energy, foot-stomping live performances. When The Nightowls rev their musical engines, they channel the Motor City’s classic dancin’-in-the-street beats to create an irresistible neo-soul sound that’s all their own.
The O’s
Band mates Taylor Young (burly lower vocals, guitar, kick drum) and John Pegigo (higher squirrelly vocals, banjo, lowebro, harmonica, tambo) formed The O’s in 2008 after performing together in many other bands and groups including Polyphonic Spree, Young Heart Attack and Rose County Fair. The musicians’ quirky and often times hilarious personalities mix perfectly with their brand of foot-stomping rock. For their stop at Texas Reds Festival, they will feature selections from all of their albums including Thunderdog recorded at the legendary Sonic Ranch Studio in Tornillo, Texas.
Two Tons of Steel
Before there was Americana, before there was Texas Country, Two Tons of Steel front man Kevin Geil and his band rocked a sound that blended the best of musical worlds and pushed the envelope of Texas sound with a signature brand of high-energy country meets raw punk. Best known for their standing Two Ton Tuesdays engagement at Gruene Hall, the San Antonio favorites are celebrating their 20th anniversary together this year! Their career highlights are numerous and include a spot on the cover of Billboard Magazine in 1996.
Uncle Lucius
Fresh off their highly-anticipated release of their fourth album The Light, Uncle Lucius comes to Texas Reds Festival as part of their country-crossing tour of gigs and performances. After years of spreading their message across the Lone Star State, this latest album, out since June 15, is forecasted to be the vehicle that could take the band to the national level. Their unique style of Texas music comes from the heart and speaks to the soul.
Click below to hear comments from Amanda Reynolds visiting with WTAW’s Chelsea Reber.