August - Texas Music Events Calendar 2013

The 2013 TMEC lists more than 500 annual events featuring live music. To update listing information for your 2013 event, please contact the Texas Music Office at music [at] governor.state.tx.us or call (512) 463-6666.

For a listing of Texas live music venues, please click here.

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Email: music [at] governor.state.tx.us | Request Info | Texas music event application

Rock the Desert Festival
August 1-3
Rock the Desert Festival Field; 2000 North FM 1788, Midland
Rock the Desert Ministries
Marcy Tull
P.O. Box 61377; Midland, TX 79711-1377
(432) 563-3434; Fax (432) 687-1024
Music: Rap/Hip Hop, Rock
Activities: Music festival, Ministry
Rock the Desert will hold the thirteenth annual festival in 2012. Visit our website at www.rockthedesert.com for more information.

Schulenburg Festival
August 1-4
Wolters Park; South Bohlmann Avenue
Schulenburg Festival Association
Sheila Brossmann
P.O. Box 115; Schulenburg, TX 78956
Music: Country, Polka, Rock
Activities: Rodeo, Street dance
The Schulenburg Festival invites you to bring the family and join in the fun. There is live music throughout the weekend along with food booths and ice cold refreshments. There are tournaments for Ladies & Men's softball, volleyball, golf and 3 on 3 basketball. A Fun-Run~Run for Scouting. There are cook-offs for Chili, Beans, Bar-B-Q and Bloody Marys. An Arts, Crafts, antiques and collectibles show. Go-Texan Events, Horseshoe pitching, cow chip & egg toss. Tricycle races and a kiddie parade. There is a homecoming festival for graduates from SHS and BFHS. There is a rodeo on both Friday and Saturday. The Grand parade is on Sunday in downtown Schulenburg. 2012 bands are soon to be announced- visit the web for updates.

XIT Rodeo and Reunion ~ 2
August 1-3
Rita Blanca Lake
XIT Rodeo and Reunion, Inc.
Scott Simmons, President/BBQ
P.O. Box 966; Dalhart, TX 79022
(806) 244-7675; (806) 333-4367
Music: Country
Activities: Rodeo
The XIT Rodeo and Reunion features a PRCA rodeo with more than 900 contestants, a parade, a watermelon feed, a porkchop feed, and the world's largest free bar-b-que. XIT also includes three nights of live country and Texas music. Headliners have included Calvin Milburnon Band, Blackhawk, Jesse & Noah Bellamy, The Buster Bledsoe Band, Tommy Gallagher and the Bart Crow Band.

Houston International Jazz Festival
August 2-4
Verizon Wireless Theater, Wortham Theater; 500 McKinney, 610 Preston
Jazz Education, Inc.
Denise Kennedy
P.O. Box 8031; Houston, TX 77288
(713) 839-7000; Fax (713) 839-8266
Music: Jazz
Activities: Music festival
The first weekend in August represents the kick off celebration for August Jazz Month and the beginning festivities of the Annual Houston International Jazz Festival. The festival events are held in three locations. The Red Cat Jazz Cafe hosts the opening reception, the Worthham Theater Center is the site for the Kroger Mayor's Scholarship Jazz Brunch featuring Jazz Education's Summer Jazz Workshop All-Stars. This year presents an excellent opportunity for sponsors to join forces with the HIJF in an effort to further link their company with a diverse audience. All proceeds go to the Jazz Education Inc. to support music education for under-served youth in the southwest region. Verizon Wireless will host the Saturday and Sunday events.

Fiddlers' Contest
August 3
Lake Rita Blanca Park; 1291 FM 281
Dalhart Chamber of Commerce
Kristine Olsen
P.O. Box 967; Dalhart, TX 79022
(806) 244-5646; (806) 249-5646; Fax (806) 244-4945
Music: Bluegrass, Country, Cowboy
Activities: Fiddling contests
Fiddling Contest open to all age groups. Cash prizes. Takes place at noon immediately following the XIT Rodeo & Reunion Street Parade on the lawn, west of the Rodeo arena.

Kerrville Fall Music Festival
August 3- September 1
Quiet Valley Ranch; 3876 Medina Highway (16 South)
Kerrville Festivals, Inc.
Dalis Allen
P.O. Box 291466; Kerrville, TX 78029
(830) 257-3600; (800) 435-8429; Fax (830) 257-8680
Music: Americana, Bluegrass, Folk/Acoustic, Reggae
Activities: Music festival, Texas Wine Tasting and Seminars
Kerrville Fall Music Festival is a music festival which presents 35 songwriters and the products of a dozen Texas winemakers. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the concerts, wine tastings, and wine seminars at the outdoor theater at Quiet Valley Ranch, 9 miles south of Kerrville on Highway 16. Concerts start at 7 p.m. each night. There will be food, arts and crafts. Camping is available. Advance tickets available; please see web site for performers and ticket purchases. In 2012 we expanded the event to include a "Brewfest" with local microbrews & a home-brew seminar, in addition to the world class songwriters and Texas wine. We will again be including this addition.

Ruby Allmond Songwriting Contest ~ 2
August 3
Bailey Inglish Auditorium; 201 East 10th Street, Bonham, TX
Special Collections Dept. of the James G. Gee Library
P. O. Box 3011; Commerce, TX 75429
(903) 886-5463; (903) 450-6806
Music: Bluegrass, Country, Folk/Acoustic, Rock
Activities: Music festival, Songwriting contests
We invite all aspiring songwriters to enter the 2013 Ruby Allmond Songwriting Contest hosted by Texas A&M University-Commerce's Special Collections Department. This annual event is held to honor and celebrate the life and musical career of fiddler/songwriter Ruby Allmond. Registration forms must be postmarked by June 15, 2013. Ten finalists will be selected to perform their songs at the contest on August 3. Registration forms and official rules are available at the following link: "http://bit.ly/10GtnrD

Summer Salsa
August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Beckert Park; 5044 Addison Circle, Addison, TX
Town of Addison
Barbara Kovacevich
P.O. Box 9010; Addison, TX 75001-9010
(972) 450-2851; (800) 233-4766; Fax (972) 450-2834
Music: Salsa
Activities: Concert season, Music festival
Enjoy summer evenings under the stars in beautiful Beckert Park. Listen to live music from some of the hottest names in salsa while you picnic or dine in one of the great Addison Circle restaurants. Salsa dance lessons are presented by the Dance Council prior to the concert.

Deleon Peach and Melon Festival and Tractor Pull
August 6-10

P.O. Box 64; Deleon, TX 76444

Texas Association of Broadcasters • Society of Broadcast Engineers Convention and Trade Show
August 7-8
Renaissance Hotel; Austin, TX
Texas Association of Broadcasters
Emily Lehane
502 East 11th Street, Suite 200; Austin, TX 778701
(512) 322-9944; (512) 322-9944; Fax (512) 322-0522
Activities: Awards show, Trade show/convention
The Texas Association of Broadcasters joins with the Society of Broadcast Engineers (Southwest Region) to host the largest state broadcast association in the nation -- the annual TAB/SBE Convention & Trade Show. August 8-9, 2012.

Frio River Song Festival
August 8-10
Concan, TX
Owen Temple Music
Mary Woodall, Assistant Producer
1201 W 24th Street Suite 107; Austin, TX 78705
(512) 489-4094
Music: Country, Folk/Acoustic
Activities: Music festival
The Frio River Song Festival is held annually on on the first weekend in August near Concan, Texas in northern Uvalde County (about 80 miles west of San Antonio on Highway 90) near the Frio River. On Friday night of the weekend, nine songwriters perform at a small acoustic outdoor concert on the riverfront of a cabin on the Frio River. On Saturday night, the festival holds an open-to-the-public, multi-artist, band show at the House Pasture Cattle Company venue in Concan. The festival features acoustic outdoor performances by songwriters and coordinates small gatherings for the sharing of songs and stories in a beautiful part of the Texas Hill Country.

East Texas Sacred Harp Singing Convention
August 10-11
Henderson Civic Center; 1005 Highway 64 West
East Texas Sacred Harp Singing Convention
Robert L. Vaughn
3528 CR 3168 West; Mount Enterprise, TX 75681
(903) 863-5379; (903) 657-4118
Activities: Music festival
The East Texas Sacred Harp Singing Convention is an a cappella shape note singing from a songbook entitled "The Sacred Harp." The East Texas Convention, founded in 1855, is the oldest singing convention in Texas and the second oldest continuous Sacred Harp singing convention in the United States. Singing begins at 9:30 on Saturday morning and singers sing until about 3 p.m. for each of two days, with appropriate breaks. Lunch is provided by the Convention. Singers from many U.S. states annually descend on Henderson, Texas for this special event.

Pioneer Days Festival and Rodeo ~ 2
August 14-17
T & P Railroad Trail Head Park; US Hwy 82 & Ellis Street
New Boston Chamber of Commerce
Deborah Cook, Executive Director
100 North Center Street; New Boston, TX 75570-2935
(903) 628-2581; Fax (903) 628-6340
Music: Country, Gospel
Activities: County fair, Fiddling contests, Music festival, Rodeo, Street dance
Pioneer Days begins Thursday with Gospel Singing. Amusement rides, arm band night Thursdays. Friday continues with amusement rides, arts & crafts, retail products for sale, street dance and plenty of good food to buy. Activities on Saturday include: Pancake breakfast, parade, turkey shoot, and the 4-Wheeler Mud Races with entry fee and cash prizes for winners. All day entertainment, arts & crafts, retail products for sale. Live entertainment all day. Fiddlers Contest. Juried Art Show. Awards to be presented to winners of Quilt Show, Baked Goods, Canned Goods. Free Kid Games. Amusement Rides. More good food to buy. Petting zoo, pony rides, dunking booth, kid train rides, human Gyro, giant kid slide, and rock wall climbing.

North Texas State Fair and Rodeo
August 16-24
North Texas State Fairgrounds; 2217 North Carroll Blvd.
North Texas State Fair Association, Inc.
Glenn Carltton
P.O. Box 1695; Denton, TX 76202
(940) 387-2632; Fax (940) 382-7763
Music: Country, Cowboy, Folk/Acoustic, Regional Mexican, Tejano
Activities: County fair, Music festival, Rodeo, Street dance, Trade show/convention
The North Texas State Fair includes rodeos, chili and barbecue cookoffs, livestock show, commercial exhibits, carnival, live entertainment, beauty pageant, creative arts, photography contest, children's art contest, and more. Past performers include Charlie Robison, John Conlee, Eddy Raven, Asleep at the Wheel, Pat Green, Vince Vance & the Valiants, Dave Alexander and the Legends of Western Swing, LeAnn Rimes, Tracy Lawrence, Mark Chetnutt, Randy Royal Band, Casey Donahue Band, Wade Bowen, Emelio, The Bellamy Brothers, Darryl Worley, Cory Morrow, Sonny Burgess, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland, Kevin Fowler, Gene Watson, Mark David Manders, Baylie Brown, Jack Ingram, Stoney Larue, Sammy Kershaw, Eli Young, and Johnny Rodriguez.

Fire on the Strings Bluegrass Festival
August 16-17
South Shore Harbor Resort and Conference Center; League City
Bay Area Bluegrass Association
Rick Kirkland
5820 Misty Meadow; League City, TX 77573
(281) 488-2244; (281) 332-5767; Fax (281) 332-5767
Music: Bluegrass, Country, Folk/Acoustic
Activities: Awards show, Music festival, Banjo, Guitar contests
Fire on the Strings Bluegrass Festival features live music on stage with lots of space for jamming, 235 RV sites for camping and activities for the children. This years event will include top national & regional bluegrass bands workshops and lots of jams.

Austin Ice Cream Festival ~ 2
August 17
Waterloo Park; Austin, TX
Lyon Advertising
Doug Lyon
9600 Escarpment Blvd., Suite 745; Austin, TX 78749-1983
(512) 480-5966
Activities: Annual Event
Around the first week in August, the public and their pets are welcome to play games and enjoy live entertainment, and lots of ice cream, at Waterloo Park on Trinity, adjacent to the University of Texas campus. Call (512) 441-9015 for more information.

St. Andrew's Variety Show and Silent Auction
August 17
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church; 14311 Wells Port Drive, Austin, TX
Open Ears Concerts
David Marks, Music Director
Austin, TX 78728
(512) 736-7001; (512) 251-0698
Music: Bluegrass, Folk/Acoustic, Jazz
Activities: Variety show and silent auction
St. Andrew's Variety Show and Silent Auction features several exciting performers and a silent auction, the proceeds of which will help to pay performers, promote the shows and sustain and improve the concert series. The show is made possible by Open Ears Concerts, a monthly concert series at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church that strives to present both established and emerging artists, mainly in acoustic genres such as folk, bluegrass, world and jazz.

Texas Troubadour Songwriter Classic ~ 2
August 17
Bosque Arts Center; 215 South College Hill, Clifton, TX
Bosque Arts Center
P.O. Box 373; Clifton, TX 76634
(254) 675-3724; (254) 253-1263
Music: Country
Activities: Songwriting contests
The event is a contest for Songwriters in Texas, $3,500. in cash prizes; songs can be uploaded on website for "Songwriter" Award. Then there is a performance category with uploaded performance links; there will be a live event on 8/17/13 where performance contestants will perform for a Judge who will selected "Performance Award" Judges choice and the audience will be able to vote by cell phone at the event for "Performance Award" People's Choice.

Deep Summer Bluegrass Festival ~ 2
August 21-24
The Chrystal Opry House; 1.5 miles west of Tom Bean and .5 miles south of Highway 902 on White Mound Road
Chrystal Opry House at Melody Ranch
Bill Hayes, Owner
1977 White Mound Road; Sherman, TX 75090-5680
(903) 546-6893; (903) 271-4260
Music: Bluegrass, Gospel
Activities: Music festival
Our Deep Summer Bluegrass Festival includes a Gospel Night on August 22nd with four bands. Those booked so far are The Full Quiver and Triple L Bluegrass. We have an 80 space RV park on site. Programs are performed inside the air-conditioned Chrystal Opry House and a concession area is available. Bands booked for this event are Triple L Bluegrass, Copper Canyon, HWY 19, Tanner Young, The Upper Grassmen, and the Melody Ranch Ramblers. More bands will be announced. Please check our website for updates.

Gillespie County Fair
August 22-25
Gillespie County Fairgrounds; Highway 16 South - 530 Fair Drive
Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association, Inc.
Gary Kunz
P.O. Box 526; Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 997-2359; Fax (830) 997-4923
Music: Country
Activities: County fair, Singing contests, Street dance
Gillespie County Fair features a downtown parade on Main Street (Friday), horse races (Saturday-Sunday), and live entertainment (Friday and Saturday). Other activities include livestock show, 4-H and FFA exhibits, crafts show and sale, and the Gillespie County Fair Queen Contest. Plenty of good food and refreshments. Artists scheduled to appear Friday and Saturday night. Past performers have included Robert Earl Keen, Pat Green, Corey Morrow, Shenandoah, Wade Hayes, Rhett Akins, and Ricochet.

Batfest
August 24
Ann W. Richards Bridge; 100 Congress Avenue
Roadway Productions
12305 Twin Creek Drive; Manchaca, TX 78652
(512) 441-9015; (866) 255-2223; Fax (512) 441-9016
Activities: Annual Event
In mid to late August, thousands of people come to Austin's Town Lake and downtown Austin to see millions of Mexican Free Tail Bats, shop for locally made crafts and listen to over 30 live bands on two stages. Call (512) 441-9015 for more information.

Margarita and Salsa Festival ~ 2
August 24
Extraco Events Center; Waco, TX
Heart of Texas Branch of the Arthritis Foundation
Rachel Martinez, Special Event Director
824 Hewitt Drive, Suite 400, No. 377; Waco, TX 76712
(254) 776-1660; Fax (254) 776-1667
Music: Country, Cowboy, Jazz
Activities: margarita, salsa, and queso contest
The Arthritis Foundation and the Heart O Texas Fair Complex have partnered to present the 17th annual Margarita & Salsa Festival on Saturday, August 25th. The event will feature the best country music in Texas and will continue the tradition of the popular contest where local restaurants and individuals vie for the title of Best Margarita, Salsa, Queso and/or Guacamole. Enjoy the event in the comfort of the VIP area. $150 per person includes food, beverages, seating, cooling fans, parking, and gift bag.

Salmon Lake Park Bluegrass Festival
August 8/29-9/1
Salmon Lake Park; 357 Salmon Lake Road
Salmon Lake Park
Fannie Salmon
P.O. Box 483; Grapeland, TX 75844
(936) 687-2594; Fax (936) 687-2594
Music: Bluegrass
Activities: Music festival
The 37th annual Salmon Lake Park Bluegrass Festival begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday and ends at 5 p.m. Sunday. Eleven bands perform on an outdoor stage under beautiful shade trees during a 45-minute set. Bluegrass bands consist of banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and dobro. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy 25 hours of good bluegrass music. Salmon Lake Park Bluegrass Festival is an outdoor event featuring Saltgrass, Marksmen, Bill Grant, coleman Brothers, Goldwing Express, Tennessee Gentlemen, David Davis, Tin Top Road, Karl Shiflett, Nu Blu, Shady Grove Ramblers, Welch Mountain, and others. Outdoor bluegrass festival.

Central Texas State Fair
August 30-September 1
Bell County Expo Center; 301 West Loop 121, Belton, TX
Bell County Expo Center
Keith Smith
P.O. Box 206; Belton, TX 76513
(254) 933-5353; Fax (254) 933-5354
Music: Country, Rock
Activities: County fair, Rodeo, Singing contests
The 25th Central Texas State Fair includes livestock shows, commercial exhibits, educational exhibits, and live entertainment. Activities include a carnival, petting zoo, PBR bull riding, food booths, and Texas music acts.

Westfest
August 30-September 1
West Fair and Rodeo Grounds; 1110 South Main Street
Westfest, Inc.
Brian Muska
P.O. Box 65; West, TX 76691
(254) 826-5058; (254) 826-3188; Fax (254) 826-3669
Music: Children's, Country, Polka
Activities: Music festival, Street dance, Trade show/convention
Westfest is a three-day Czechoslovakian festival featuring eight polka and waltz bands from around the state on two stages and dance areas. Westfest promotes Czech music, dancing, and food with more than 25 food booths, cultural area with ethnic dance groups, and 100 arts and crafts booths. The fest also features a large children's area, Kolache baking contest on Sunday, horseshoe pitching contest, taroky tournaments, and a 5,000 meter run. Free shuttle buses transport from downtown area to festival grounds. Past performers include Brave Combo, Hot Czechs, Czech Harvestors, and more. Friday night preview features top name country and western band.

World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-Off
August 30-31
Richards Park; Brady, TX
Brady / McCulloch County Chamber of Commerce
Erin Corbell, CFO/ Member
101 East First Street; Brady, TX 76825
(325) 597-3491; Fax (325) 792-9181
Music: Country
Activities: Street dance, BBQ Cook-Off, 5K Fun Run, Arts & Crafts, Children's Games
The 40th Annual World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-Off begins Friday afternoon with arts & crafts, children’s games, food vendors and a cooker registration & welcome party complete with live music until midnight. Saturday begins with the 5K fun run and activity continues in the park with arts & crafts, children’s games, food vendors, a BBQ goat meal, and the awards ceremony. That night, a street dance on the downtown courthouse square will feature traditional country music by Aaron Watson.

Big Bend Balloon Bash
August 31, September 1-2
Alpine-Casparis Airport; Alpine, TX
600 West Avenue E; Alpine, TX 79830
(432) 837-7486
Activities: Balloon Festival
Since 1987, the Big Bend Balloon Bash has provided an unforgettable experience for sport hot air balloon pilots, sponsors, vendors, and families. Over the three-day Labor Day Weekend, each day offers the chance to create and capture memories unique to the high mountain desert region of Alpine, Texas, and the Big Bend. Featuring the Friday night Fire Concert at Buck Stadium in Alpine. Come join us this year for another fun-filled weekend of aerial displays and special events.

City of Bedford Labor Day Blues & BBQ Festival
August 31-September 1
Bedford, TX
City of Bedford
Wendy Hartnett
1951 L Don Dodson; Bedford, TX 76021
(817) 952-2128
Activities: Music festival
Music lovers with an appetite for tasty blues and mouth-watering barbecue will find the 2013 City of Bedford Labor Day Blues & BBQ Festival a feast for the senses. The two-day event returns Aug. 31 - Sep. 1, with stellar entertainment. The stage isn't the only place that's smoking during the two-day festival. Pit masters can compete for $10,000 in prize money in Bedford's cook-off sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. Entry forms and complete details can be found on the event web site: www.bedfordbluesbbq.com. The outdoor event is 2 to 11 p.m. each day. Daily general admission lawn seating is $5.00. Limited reserved seats that include general admission are available for $25 and may be purchased online beginning April 27. Lawn chairs and blankets are permitted. Coolers, pets, tape recorders, and flash and video cameras are not allowed. On-site parking is $10.00.