Walking Shoes Sore-footed country artist Granger Smith ad- mits his 100-mile Boot Walk — from Austin to Fort Hood May 4-8 — took a toll. “Wednesday was the worst,” he told Texas Music, “but my May ‘14 pain doesn’t compare to anything our soldiers extra go through. People pull up in their cars, and we never know what to expect. This year a combat vet pulled up and talked to us about his friend, who died in Iraq just two months news calendar releases q&a ago.” This marks the fourth year Smith — part- click here to read click here to read click here to read click here to read nering with the Boot Campaign — has hosted the five-day trek, aimed at providing financial From left, Doyle Bramhall II, Robert Randolph and Willie Nelson perform during the finale. (Scott Newton) assistance to military families using proceeds Double Trouble, famed UT football coach Dar- by Lickona and Royal by former UT football rell Royal and show creator Bill Arhos. During coach Mack Brown. Surrounded by family, the induction, the show’s longtime executive Royal’s wife, Edith Royal, accepted on the producer, Terry Lickona, called Nelson the coach’s behalf, stressing how much the music heart of Austin City Limits and Arhos its spirit, meant to Royal, who rarely missed a taping. both helping to make the show a musical insti- tution. With an introduction by actor and Texas native Matthew McConaughey, Nelson kicked off the night with a rousing rendition of “Whis- key River” and was soon joined onstage by extra Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Har- ris. During their PUBLISHER/ STEWART RAMSER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 11-song set, the three per- EDITOR TOM BUCKLEY formed “On the Road Again,” “I CONTribuTOrs ALLEGRA BOUTCH From left, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett ALLIE EISSLER returned to a familiar set. (Scott Newton) Saw the Light” ANNE HERMAN and Townes MICHAEL MARCHIO Studio 6A Revisited Van Zandt’s MIKE MESSICK The firstAustin City Limits Hall of Fame induc- “Pancho and JULIE SEAFORD tion ceremony brought the show back to its Lefty.” Before WILLIAM MICHAEL SMITH original venue for one night: KLRU’s Studio 6A a short break, www.txmusic.com on the University of Texas campus. Before Aus- Nelson, Royal from the walk. Still, this year the walk took tin City Limits moved to its current home at the and Arhos were MAiliNG ADDress PO boX 50273 on special significance after the recent Fort Moody Theater, the walls of Studio 6A absorbed honored with austin, TX 78763 Hood shooting, which Smith says didn’t deter nearly four decades of Austin music history. awards depict- SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1-877-35-TEXAS the walkers. “It just made them more eager Held on Saturday, April 26, the invitation-only ing the Austin OFFICE: 512-638-8900 to do it,“ he says. “I can’t describe the feel- event was filled with special performances and skyline. Nelson E-MAIL: [email protected] ing of walking through those gates, and sol- COPyright © 2014 by TEXas Music, L.L.C. standing ovations for performers and honor- was inducted A ll rights reser V ed . diers telling me how much what I do matters REProduction in whole or Part is Prohibited. ees. The Hall of Fame’s first class of inductees Buddy Guy honored Stevie Ray by McCon- to them. Some said ‘I’ll never forget this’ and included Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Vaughan. (Scott Newton) aughey, Arhos ‘We really needed this.’” news calendar releases q&a click here to read click here to read click here to read click here to read Country Girl of their marriage and whether she’s preg- Miranda Lambert, whose new album, Plati- nant has been “hurtful.” “None of it is true,” num, comes out June 3, admits she’s puzzled she declares. “All by the trouble other female country acts have of a sudden this getting airplay. “I don’t know what’s going page turned, and on,” she tells Billboard. “I don’t know where it was like over- the connection is off as far as airplay. This is night we couldn’t just one of those waves where females are go to a restaurant. struggling a little bit, but we’ll come back There’s people out- around and be a force to be reckoned with.” side waiting, flash- That’s not to say the 30-year-old songbird ing cameras in our isn’t proud of being country with a capital “C.” face, and I’m going, “Country music is on top right now,” she notes. ‘What just hap- “I might be a little prejudiced toward country, pened?’ Nobody and happy about it, but we’re popular music. told me about this. It makes me proud we’re getting the spotlight, I thought this was because we deserve it.” Due to her popularity only in the maga- and that of husband Blake Shelton, the duo zines I bought are now country’s superstar couple — a posi- at the airport, tion that sometimes makes Lambert upset. and now we’re in The constant tabloid coverage on the state them!” news calendar releases q&a click here to read click here to read click here to read click here to read Hippie Love Punk Seth James last year, Canada has seized the finish out its third season on the Texas Plus announced during the 49th annual ACM Cody Canada and opportunity to take the lead of the now four- syndicated network. The new episodes have Awards for a move to Texas next year in the Departed be- piece band. With Canada’s songwriting and even more of a focus on the music, getting honor of the show’s 50th anniversary. “I’m gan work on a vocals at the forefront again, long-time Rag- back to the basics of what it takes to make so proud of what Texas is to country music,” new full-length weed fans have something to look forward it as a Texas singer-songwriter. The final says Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. “It’s al- album this month to. “It’s a hippie love punk record,” Canada seven episodes of the season include a va- most like Friday night football in Texas. It’s a at the historic quips. “Hey ... that could be a good title.” riety of Texas music, including country, pop, tradition.” Blake Shelton — better known to Arlyn Studios Americana and alternative. Returning trou- Texans as Miranda Lambert’s better half — in Austin, plan- Dose of Reality badours include Zane Williams, Josh Grider, and Luke Bryan will return as ACM hosts. ning on a release Cody Johnson, Curtis Grimes, date this fall. The Michaelis and Kylie Rae Har- follow-up to their ris, while the final episodes also 2012 album of showcase both new talent, in- original material, cluding Andrew Ripp and Jack- Adventus, the opierce, and troubadours living new record finds the dream, such as Ray Wylie former Cross Hubbard, Rodney Crowell, Jack Canadian Ragweed frontman Cody Canada Ingram, Wade Bowen, Roger returning to his musical roots after several Creager and more. Co-creator years spent pursuing other creative paths. The reality television series Troubadour, TX of the series Stacy Dean Camp- Since the amicable exit of vocalist/guitarist returned April 26 with all-new episodes to bell narrates the docu-reality series, and Kris Kristofferson appears each week in a seg- ment where he offers advice to the participants. Texas-Sized Celebration Eighteen minutes — that’s how long it took country music fans to snap up all 70,000 tickets for next year’s 50th anniver- sary of the Academy of Coun- try Music Awards. The awards show is set for April 19, 2015, at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington. The show and its surrounding activities typically take place in Las Vegas, but plans were news calendar releases q&a click here to read click here to read click here to read click here to read calendar MAY 22–6/8 new releases Kerrville Folk Festival Quiet Valley Ranch Homemade Tamales: Kerrville April 15 Randy Rogers Band Room 8 www.kerrville-music.com Live at Floores April 15 Rodney Crowell Tarpaper Sky New West 23–25 Fredericksburg Crawfish Festival April 15 Ray Bonneville Easy Gone Red House Marketplatz April 27 Philip Gibbs Box Canyon Blues Self Fredericksburg April 29 Old 97s Most Messed Up ATO www.fbgcrawfish.com April 29 The Footnotes Comin’ Home Rodeo Cold National Polka Festival Various venues April 29 Asylum Street Spankers The Last Laugh Yellow Dog Ennis May 3 Leslie Krafka on•ward Smallz www.nationalpolkafestival.com May 6 Josh Grider Luck & Desire Amp 24–27 May 6 Elias Haslanger Live at the Gallery Cherrywood Llano’s Blue Bell and Bluegrass Festival May 13 Radney Foster Everything I Should Have Said Devil’s River Historic Courthouse Square Llano May 13 Carrie Elkin & Danny Schmidt For Keeps Red House www.llanochamber.org May 13 Jonny Burke EP Dreamcar May 13 Levi Weaver Your Ghost Keeps Finding Me Rock Ridge JUNE May 13 Collin Herring Some Knives Self Aaron Behrens (Ghostland Observatory) plays with the 7–8 May 13 Asleep at the Wheel Having A Party: Live Cleopatra Midnight Stroll. Texas Folklife Festival HemisFair Park May 27 Mark Jones & Twenty Paces Breaking Even Self NEON DESERT MUSIC FESTIVAL San Antonio May 27 Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison Our Year Premium May 24-25 • El Paso www.texasfolklifefestival.org May 27 The Ghost Wolves Man, Woman, Beast Plowboy www.neondesertmusicfestival.com 12–15 May 27 Nick Verzosa & Love In Principle Tiyaga Over the past three years, more than 30,000 fans have attended the ROT Biker Rally The Noble Union Travis County Expo Center Neon Desert Music Festival, and, for the first time, the popular outdoor June 3 Mingo Fishtrap On Time Blue Corn event will take place over two days when it takes over Cleveland Square Austin Park in Downtown El Paso on Memorial Day weekend.