John Arthur Martinez

Savanna Gregg
Staff Writer

Raised in the Hill Country by a pair of musical parents, artist Brandon Alan grew up with exposure to a variety of genres and styles of music. He soon blazed his own trail, and began picking the guitar around the age of 11.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

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.”

Tickets are on sale for the Sept. 23-24 FiestaJAM on Lake Marble Falls, the big music and wine benefit for the artistic programs of Harmony School of Creative Arts and Marble Falls Independent School District.

For the price of a $15 ticket, visitors will enjoy the whole evening's music at Lakeside Park Saturday, including the 6 p.m. Marquee Concert with Joe Ely at Lakeside Park Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive. A $35 ticket adds tastings of featured wine and beer. (Children are admitted free with ticket holders).

A $75 ticket includes Saturday events and adds Friday's Patrons of the Arts reception.

Beyond battling bands and Joe Ely, music fans will hear john Arthur martinez, Mike Blakely, Drew Womack and John David Kent.

By Glynis Crawford Smitih

The Highlander

At least 2,000 guests joined in the festival celebrating the anniversary of the City of Granite Shoals on Friday and Saturday, April 23-24. 

Evelyn Turner, 99, was the honored guest to blow out the birthday candle for the Granite Shoals 50th Year Bash opening Saturday. She and her husband bought land on Belaire East Drive in 1963 and they built the house she shares with her son now in 1980 and she still is active in Granite Shoals First Baptist Church.

At the Granite Shoals 50th Year Bash, runners began signing in at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 23, and took to the Leo Manazano Hike Bike and Run Trail with its Olympic silver medalist namesake at 9 a.m. By mid-day an estimated 2,000 visitors were coming and going among exhibits, games and musical performances.

The Highland Lakes Elementary School (HLES) Choir performed at opening ceremonies that ended with a 10 a.m. release of hundreds of ballons in the city's signature green and blue colors. Art of HLES student art created the appearance of stained glass in city hall windows.