FiestaJAM begins tonight and rolls right through Sunday

Jimmie Vaughan, of Fabulous Thunderbirds and Austin music scene fame, will play FiestaJAM on Saturday, Oct. 21, but he is icing on the cake of a music festival has grown to four days of Marble Falls Hill Country fun beginning tonight, Thursday, Oct. 19.

Visitors can sample wines from award-winning local vintners, craft beers from regional brewmasters and samples from area chocolatiers, as well as wine seminars and regional foods.

“We have more musicians and more events than ever before,” said event co-founder Robert Linder. “There is literally something for everyone.”

“Sunday’s Concert of Faith, is something entirely new,” said Linder. “It is sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Lake Marble Falls. “Tickets for the 2 p.m. performance at Lakeside Park are $25, but you can go to First Baptist on La Ventana Drive and pick them up for the discounted price of $10.”

The new concert in the Fiesta JAM lineup will bring home native son Rex Paul Schnelle with Next Exit in Sacred Space and will see local sacred singers join performances by the country Christian group Branded abd singer/songwriter George Gurganus.

The whole celebration kicks off with a Thursday-night party featuring country favorite Randy Rogers performing a 9 p.m. show in Brass Hall at 909 Third Street.

Linder will host Friday’s 6 p.m. reception with wine tastings and cocktails lower patio of Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive. A buffet dinner at 7 p.m. will feature regional food and wine pairings.

At 8 p.m., songwriters Drew Womack and Mike Blakely will join FiestaJAM co-founder john Arthur martinez for a song swap. Dessert, with special chocolate tastings, will be served from 8:50-9:10 p.m., when award-winning Texas songwriter Walt Wilkins will perform.

Friday at the Lakeside Park and Pavilion, Lubbock-born red-dirt singer-songwriter Red Shahan will headline an evening of music featuring Texas Americana artists Shea Abshier & the Nighthowlers, Lone Star/Red Dirt music pioneer Dub Miller, Austin guitarslinger Jeff Plankenhorn. The “heavy leather” country rockers KATTL, winners of the 2016 FiestaJAM Battle of the Bands contest complete the Friday lineup.

Saturday’s daytime performances include the Reno Perez Band (mariachi mambo blues), award-winning Tex-Americana band john Arthur martinez & Tejas; the Brass-A-Holics (D.C. go-go and New Orleans funk); Austin singer-songwriter Julian Acosta, and the progressive rock of Rex Schnelle with Next Exit & Sacred Space (pop/prog rock). Gates open at noon; music begins at 1 p.m.

The day of live music will be liberally seasoned with wine tastings/seminars by regional wineries and fine chocolate tastings presented by local chocolatiers Lake House Chocolate, It's All Goode and Choccolatte's. A silent auction will feature signed guitars by Willie Nelson, Glenn Campbell, Ray Benson and Joe Ely. An art exhibit will feature 10 Highland Lake artists including Randy Rudman, Maggie Booth, Harry Angel, Bob Rohm and Ralph Moresco.

Vaughan's legendary music caps off the night at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available in packages and for individual days performances, The prime package, at $250, includes the Patron of the Arts sponsor reception/social and songwriters-in-the-round concert under the stars on Friday, Oct. 20, at Escondido Golf & Lake Club, plus Saturday and Sunday performances and tastings at Lakeside Park/Pavilion.

Children 12 and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult; festivalgoers must be 21 for alcohol tastings.

Details and ticket purchases are available online at www.FiestaJAM.org.

“The best thing about the success of this festival?” said Linder. “It is all to support the music programs of the Marble Falls Independent School District and Harmony School of the Arts.”