CSJ14_MFest_ad_Layout 1 2/15/14 3:47 PM Page 1 CSJ14_MFest_ad_Layout 1 2/15/14 3:47 PM Page 1 Contents Publisher FEATURES Grammys, Nutrition Corner: Not All Bugs are Bad ....... 8 Ribs and Border Radio . 11 Texas "And the Grammy Goes to..." ...................... 12 Sarah and Shauna Dodds of Backstage Design Studio Hold 'Em… 2014 Festival Guide .................................. 16 e tend to cover a wide variety of subjects in this 2014 Grand Poker Tournament ................. 18 magazine, all connected to this genuine music lifestyle. It’s a way of life, bound by a like-minded Shinyribs ................................................ 20 W community, sharing a common thread: enjoying things that are a Kevin Russell dishes with Jon Grossman little more grounded and real. Favorite Venues ....................................... 27 Hats off to Reckless Kelly, and Shauna and Sarah Dodds of Backstage Design Studio, on their Grammy award-winning collaboration, Long Night Moon. The album's artwork design was recently awarded the recognition of a lifetime, a Grammy for Best Recording Packaging. So, a well-deserved CONGRATULATIONS to both the RK guys and "the Dodds sisters,” the latter of whom grace the cover of this issue. We couldn’t think of a better way to recognize their recent accolade for their incredible design and creativity. Just earning a Grammy nomination is quite an accomplishment (which they DEPARTMENTS also earned in 2012 for Reckless Kelly's Good Luck & True Love Artists Helping Others ............................... 7 release), but bringing the prestigious award back to Texas this time comes with some real bragging rights. MY Other Gig: Hal Ketchum...................... 15 MY Rig: Justin Nelson .............................. 29 How’d it happen, you may ask? Well, in my opinion, take two very talented, creative ladies and throw in the renowned Braun wit MY Vinyl: Midnight River Choir................ 30 and cleverness, and there you have it. Just goes to show, if you Music Reviews ......................................... 33 surround yourself with good people, anything is possible. Read more in the interview by Mike Ethan Messick. Music Charts ........................................... 34 While we’re bragging on them, Dickson Productions has been fortunate enough to enjoy some great designs created by The MusicFest Magazine is distributed throughout the Southwest USA and directly mailed to all 50 states, several countries Backstage Design Studio, and we certainly appreciate Sarah and read by hundreds of thousands. DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! and Shauna hanging out this year at MusicFest. Of course, the Go to dicksonproductions.com or themusicfest.com for your FREE design (and light!) aren't the only reasons to buy the album; it subscription. Advertise to over 200,000 (hard copy) and over 300,000 (online) dedicated readers. Email us at [email protected]. features some of Reckless Kelly’s finest musical arrangements and lyrics to date. On The Cover: Grammy winners, Shauna and Sarah Dodds of Backstage Design Studio, photography by Chad Wadsworth. Music sensation Shinyribs also created a heck of a buzz as first- The MusicFest Magazine is: VIEW THIS ISSUE ONLINE! timers at the MusicFest this past January. In addition to the full theMusicFest.com Publisher/Editor in Chief: ...John Dickson band version, the Dung Beetle Saloon audience so enjoyed SUBSCRIBE! For mail subscription Shinyribs’ captivating acoustic gig that they created a social Managing Editor: ...Eleanor Sawyer inquiries, write to [email protected] media storm at the festival. Check out Jon Grossman's interview Assistant Editor: ...Lauren Danser Ellerbee As you endeavor on your musical Project Coordinator: ...Sarah Hearne with Kevin Russell, who provides some interesting insight. (Stay odyssey, do not just stop at reading this tuned: we’ll have more on other new, sensational bands who’ve Art Director: ...Ron Crose/Pranamedia publication. We urge you to go online Graphic Designer: ...Lisa Herbert and research your favorite artists and made their mark as well.) Advertising: ...Sarah Hearne venues. Educate yourselves by reading these other respected and informative Contributing Writers: Mike Ethan Messick, Texas Hold 'Em Poker also fits well into this scene, especially when publications: Texas Music Magazine, Best the annual tourney at MusicFest lends a helping hand to several Kelly Dearmore, in Texas, Lone Star Music Magazine, and Jon Grossman, Jessie Scott, Country Line Magazine. No matter who charities. Many thanks to the firefighters, including Texas Fire Chief of the Year Clay Huckaby, and of course to the musicians who've Wendy Jo Peterson, you are, or where you are, as readers of this publication and devoted followers Lauren Danser Ellerbee helped to make this evening such a success for so many great of the music it supports, we all have causes through the years. See the related story in these pages. Photo Editor: ...Jacy Meador something in common: an unfailing Photography: ...Todd Purifoy, Carl Dunn, enthusiasm in our hearts for the craft- Chad Wadsworth, Jessica Crouch, ing of well-made music, and a quest for All being said, Dickson Productions is so very fortunate to be adventure that this authentic music scene surrounded by such good people, music, and all of the folks who Richard Clark has shaped and produced. TheMusicFest.com: ...Pranamedia make it possible. Enjoy the festival season, its people, and the music this scene is so famous for. The MusicFest Magazine is published biannually by Dickson Productions, Inc. 6425 S. IH 35, Suite 150 PMB#293, Austin, Texas 78744. Copyright 2014 by Dickson Productions. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the USA. This magazine or its trademarks may not be reproduced Cheers, in whole or in part in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented without written permission from the Publisher. For subscription inquiries John Dickson write to [email protected]. Website www.themusicfest.com. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for views expressed herein by contributors or claims made by advertisers. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for care and return of unsolicited materials. 4 theMusicFestmagazine • 2014 The MusicFest Contributing Writers, Extended Family Get Real For The MusicFest Magazine Jessie Scott is the director of Hill Jon Grossman is a native of Country Live, with venues in New York, Brooklyn, Kentucky who splits his time between traveling and Washington, D.C. She is also heard on the the country and sleeping on a south Austin, TX radio weekdays from 10 am to 3 pm at KDRP, couch. His hobbies include sleeping, eating left- Austin/Dripping Springs—Americana Radio for overs, playing word games and slowly memoriz- the Texas Hill Country. She is a partner at Music ing the capitals of every state. He can be found Fog and a founding member of the Americana Music Association loitering at far-flung dance halls and beer joints year-round. He's where she still sits on the Board of Directors. While at XM Radio, her thrilled to be writing for The MusicFest Magazine, as it affords the channel, X Country, became the most listened to Americana music chance to put his obsessive logging and chronicling to good use. station in the world. Lauren Danser Ellerbee Mike Ethan Messick is is a native New Orleanian and LSU graduate, a songwriter, a singer, an occasional recording but she settled in Austin, Texas as soon as artist, an inveterate day-jobber and in recent she could. Her lack of musical talent fuels her years also a freelance journalist in the service enthusiastic appreciation for what others do so of nearly every major music publication in his well, and she feels very fortunate to be able to home state of Texas (including Lone Star Music, express her passion through writing. Lauren enjoys traveling and Texas Music Magazine, and the Texas Music Scene blog). Hailing from learning, as well as sharing time, food, and music with the ones Baytown, educated at Texas A&M, and gigging somewhere around she loves. the state on just about any given week, Messick lives just south of South Austin with his wife Codey and their growing family. Articles in this magazine are the opinions and experiences of other people. The MusicFest Magazine cannot be held responsible for the reliability of events, Wendy Jo Peterson, MS, RD press releases or news printed or the actions and occurrences during any events, press releases, or news printed. We do not confirm submissions from is a dietitian/nutritionist who specializes in promoters, public relations representatives, or outside news sources, but simply sports nutrition with a particular interest in provide postings as a community service to our readers. All collaboration or fueling the athlete in every musician. You can verification of such postings is the responsibility of the reader prior to relying find her tweeting about “good-eats” and healthy on such information for any action that may be taken on their behalf or on the living or catch her on the road working with behalf of others. We suggest you confirm the locations and lineups of promo- musicians to modify their 12 oz. nutrition plans! tions before attending any event listed. Happy Birthday to an Austin Original: Cactus Cafe & Bar Celebrates 35 Years! he Cactus Cafe & Bar is one of Austin’s great acoustic music traditions. The Cactus is an intimate live music performance venue, and since the cafe Topened in February 1979, the Cactus has acquired a national reputation, showcasing the top local, regional, national and international acoustic music acts on the circuit today. Billboard magazine listed the Cactus as one of 15 “solidly respected, savvy clubs” nationwide “from which careers can be cut, that work with proven names and new faces.” Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith and Ani DiFranco are among the singer-songwriters who fre- quently graced the Cactus stage early in their careers.