By AMANDA KIMBLE
TheFlashToday.com
ERATH COUNTY (April 13, 2016) – Dozens of performers. More than 60,000 Texas music lovers. They’re about to all come together and converge on Erath County. Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival is less than one week away.
The 28th annual festival offers six consecutive days of everything we love about Texas – fun, fellowship, music… Whether your annual appearance has made you a member of LJT’s extended family or if you’re a first-time visitor to Melody Mountain Ranch, here’s a rundown of some things you can expect.
Spring weather. Like every other season in the Lone Star State, it’s unpredictable. Over the years, Mother Nature has delivered the good and the bad – rain, thunderstorms, hail, tornado warnings, cold fronts, heat waves, beaming sunshine, stifling heat…
According to larryjoetaylor.com, “as long as the weather is not severe, the music will continue either on the band stage or acoustic covered pavilion stage. The best thing to do is to stay put, find some place dry and have a good time.”
The importance of being prepared. If your plan is stake claim to your own piece of Taylorville and stay for the duration (or the greater part) of the six-day event, you might want to pack a poncho, rain boots, hoodie, shorts, pants, flip flops… Or could just take along your debit card – vendors offer an array of necessities and all kinds of other things you may never need but purchase anyway. And don’ forget the gear – the festival and its entertainers have merchandise to sell and your support is their bread and butter.
There’s no reason to drink and drive. Over the years, positive growth of the Texas Music Festival has led to equally positive changes aimed at keeping festival goers – and the public beyond the gates – safe.
As always, individuals who are 21 years old and older can enter festival gates will coolers full of adult libations to keep their whistles wet. Should supplies run dry, they can restock at the beer store on the festival grounds – without risking a quick trip to the closest convenience store, morgue or county jail.
There is also a free shuttle service to and from Melody Mountain Wednesday-Sunday. Of course, gas is not free, so donations are welcomed – and appreciated.
Hours Wednesday and Thursday are noon until 1 a.m., and the shuttle starts picking up at 6 a.m. Friday and keeps rolling until 5 a.m. Sunday morning. Coolers are allowed on the van, but open containers are not.
Call Donnie Hill at (254) 300-7558 to schedule a ride – a 24-hour advanced notice is suggested but not required.
Respect the law. Police presence in Erath County is amped up for the festival in effort to keep drunken drivers off the streets – not to harass locals or pester party goers. Drink and drive and you will go to jail.
If you’ve lost track of members of your party, check the latest arrests online at inthejailhouse.com or co.erath.tx.us/jaillog.html. If you find their mugshot, rest assured they will be served a delicious, hot breakfast courtesy of local taxpayers.
The Music
While Stephenville residents know you can get a decent taste of the Texas Music scene at local venues just about every week, LJT’s festival offers and all-you-can-eat buffet with a full dessert bar.
If you’re a true fan, you’ll take a week-long vacation and roll into Melody Mountain, set up camp and catch Gary P. Nunn play at 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 18. By the way, doors open at 2 p.m. at T-Birds Garage Pub and Randy Brown plays at 5 p.m. It’s too late to buy a six-day pass, as they always sell out fast.
For many fans of the Stephenville-based band that disbanded in 2014, there’s a feverish anticipation of Tuesday night and the long-awaited return of Six Market Blvd – Clayton Landua, Josh Serrato, Ben Hussey, Dallas Neal and Scott Neal. To catch the 6MB performance, you’ll have to be a five-day ticket holder – and sorry, they’re also sold out.
Performances on the Bud Light stage Tuesday, April 19 begin at 6 p.m. and also include Dolly Shine (another Stephenville-based band that also included Ben Hussey, as well as Zack McGinn, Wesley Hall, Johnny Goodson and Jerrod Flusche). Plus, you’ll get to see Josh Weathers and Stoney LaRue.
Those who need a music fix a little earlier can catch the welcome jam hosted by Thom Shepard and Coley McCabe.
If you’re still reading, you already notice a pattern – good music and lots of it. You can check out the full lineup at larryjoetaylor.com/texas_music_festival/music_lineup.htm for two, three and four-day ticket holders.
As for festival goers whose schedules will only allow a day of fun, that would be Saturday, April 23, which offers a full day of more music than the average man can handle. It all begins with the Bloody Mary Morning Jam hosted by Randy Brown at 10:30 a.m. inside T-birds Garage Pub. The Allsup’s Stage opens at noon, welcoming a few local favorites, including Erath County’s own Luke Wade, as well as Aubrie Sellers, Davin James and The Tejas Brothers.
During the festival’s final day, Prophets and Outlaws, Charla Corn, Cody Canada & the Departed, Reckless Kelly, Roger Creager, Dalton Domino and the man himself, Larry Joe Taylor will also perform.
Tickets, parking and more
One-four day tickets can be purchased two Stephenville ticket outlets – Signs & Designs, located at 1715 N. Graham Street or Barefoot Athletics, at 1296 W. Washington Street. They may also be purchased online through April 17 at larryjoetaylor.com or at the gate – until they sell out – with a slight rate increase.
Parking decals are available and give the automobile access into the parking lot. Pricing ranges from $7 for one-day advance purchase parking to $28 at the gate for six-day parking, which requires a six-day ticket. Check the website, larryjoetaylor.com, for more information.
A permanent, 22-stall shower house is available 7 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Shower passes are $5 for one day or $20 for five days. Three and four-day passes are also available. Again, the details are online.
If you are rolling in with your RV, water and pumping service is available. Call (254) 968-2191.
With all the details out of the way, sit back, relax and enjoy a good time – and the music.
Be the first to comment