FiestaJAM on a roll
Glynis Crawford Smith/The Highlander
Fans perch on the deck of Lakeside Pavilion and spread out along the hillside of Lakeside Park in Marble Falls to hear country legend Joe Ely, left, and rocking violinist Warren Hood at FiestaJAM Saturday night, Sept. 24.
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
As many as 600 fans of music and fine spirits visited FiestaJAM Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24, and organizers Bob Linder and john Arthur martinez judged the event, third in its young history, a success.
“There is not stopping it now,” said Linder and martinez: “The fans and the music have just been great.”
Headliner Joe Ely, country music staple for decades, brought young singer-songwriter Warren Hood with him to add his violin to his set at Lakeside Park in Marble Falls Saturday.
The self-styled “Heavy Leather” group KATTL from Bandera won the $1,000 prize from Rebecca Creek Distillery and an eight-hour recording session at Uptown Sounc to top off the Battle of Bands. Taking the bow for the KATTL award were “Whiskey” Wade Lowrie, Daniel Philips, Wade Stevens, “Bobby E. “Bandera Bob” Boyd, Nick Smith, and Cole Hicks .
Checks for $300 each went to the other three final contenders, Austin's Tyler S Smith and Katy Kirby, and wunderkind Lucas Johnson of Spicewood, who performed with Ru Coleman on bass and Rene Lopez on drums to round out a driving trio.
Martinez and an expanded version of Tejas opened for Ely, mellowing the crowd with ballads and hymns and bringing them to high spirits with a solo-filled cover of the Eagles' “Hotel California.”
Participating regional wineries serving inside Lakeside Pavilion were Flat Creek Estate, Spicewood Vineyards, Perissos Vineyard and Winery, Texas Legato Winery, Fiesta Winery, Fall Creek Vineyard and Westcave Cellars Winery. Food from the R Bar & Grill also was complimented by samples from three local breweries: Save The World Brewing Company, Real Ale Brewing Company and Oasis Texas Brewing Company.
