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Terlingua Music Bash 2014 – 1.

Al Barlow and his crew of singer/songwriters from all over are arriving for the 20th annual Terlingua Music Bash. There are live music events happening at the High Sierra, the Boathouse, and the Starlight Theatre this week.

I’ll try to get a schedule… the only one I’ve seen was in Al’s hand, and it was a rough draft.

And, just in time, the Boathouse is open- with Gumby and Sierra behind the bar.

Here are some pics from Tuesday night- stay tuned, there’s gonna be lots more.

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Al Barlow sticking his head in the shark’s mouth at the Boathouse.
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Al, Jim Keaveny, and Anna Oakley at the Boathouse.
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Al with the big-ass map at the Boathouse.
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Long time coming… the Boathouse, all lit up and open!
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Moses Martinez, Dixie Beal, Patrick Smith, and Albert Besteiro play as Jeffro Greasewood tweaks the PA.
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Dixie, Patrick and Albert
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Dixie, with Patrick and Albert at the High Sierra
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Jason Blum and Albert at the High Sierra
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Just like olde times – Gumby and Sierra at the Boathouse.

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Chinati weekend in Marfa, 2014

Marfa, during the Chinati Weekend art walk, is worth doing- to look at the art and to watch the people looking at the art.

Marfa is artsy on any given day. During the Chinati weekend, Marfa goes all out.

Terlingua/Marfa photographer, Jessica Lutz, had invited us to her opening/exhibit. Walking out of the Paisano after a delightful dinner, we noticed a woman giving away wine and mixed nuts on the sidewalk in front of the gallery there.

She explained that it was Chinati Weekend. I asked a nearby sculptor what that meant. He said, “it’s when people come to Marfa to give money to the Chinati foundation and look at local art.”

I asked him if anybody bought the local art and he said, “I’m hoping. Usually not.”

Jessica and Ka Yoll held their exhibit in an abandoned house. There was art in the ballroom, art in the warehouses, art on the street… everywhere you looked there was another art exhibit, filled with hip-chic people looking at art.

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Jessica Lutz in front of one of her photos
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Poster for Jessica and Ka Yoll’s opening
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Ka and Jess enjoy a moment while Betsy Blaydes admires a photo 

Continue reading “Chinati weekend in Marfa, 2014”

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Brittany and Billy – the reception.

Following the wedding (Click HERE for that), Brittany, Billy and a few hundred of their friends and family adjourned to the Starlight Theatre in the Terlingua Ghost Town for a subdued and sober celebration.

There was a buffet dinner that tasted distinctly home-made- locally home-made. There was beer. There was a reggae band from El Paso.

I’ve tried to organize these pics so they tell the story. They’re unedited, for the most part, although I did play with a couple of them. I’ll get with the newlyweds later and find out which pics they want properly edited.

This was a uniquely Terlingua party. I got to meet people who have moved away but live on in stories and legends – and come home for parties.

As you can see from the pics, a good time was had by all.

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Continue reading “Brittany and Billy – the reception.”

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Brittany and Billy – the wedding.

Yesterday, Brittany and Billy hosted a beautiful celebration on the banks of the Rio Grande. And in the Rio Grande.

Later, there was an intimate gathering at the Starlight Theatre for a few hundred of their closest friends and family.

I took over 1,000 photos yesterday – whew! I chose a few to put up so you can share the experience. It was wonderful!

I’m putting these up so you can get an idea of what it was like. They’re nowhere near “ready for prime time.” At some point, I’ll sit down with the newlyweds and identify which shots they want me to focus on.

In the meantime, these tell the story.

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Continue reading “Brittany and Billy – the wedding.”

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Brittany and Billy – at the High Sierra.

In Terlingua you’ll hear it said, “we take care of our own.”

Brittany and Billy are certainly “our own,” and the community gathered to support them as they launch their new family.

The parking lot was full of contestants in the dutch-oven baking competition. The club was full of well-wishers.

There was a live music and a huge auction, with heated bidding on many items. All money raised went to the soon-to-be newly weds.

Here’s the pics-

 

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Full House.

Continue reading “Brittany and Billy – at the High Sierra.”

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Big Music Weekend in Terlingua

Last weekend was about as “Terlingua” as you can get.

Saturday there was a big benefit at the American Legion post at Terlingua Ranch to raise money to buy food for the Terlingua Crisis Center food distribution program.

George Goss and Webb Abbot and the “Sons of the Legion” put on a day of skeet-shooting, axe-throwing, prizes, cake-walks and music. Oh yea- there was also a tuna steak dinner that absolutely rocked.

The music continued Sunday at the High Sierra. Jeffro Greasewood is back in town having successfully grown several inches and a huge smile. Jeff Haislip hosted an open mic that started on the stage, moved into the dining room and ended up outside in the new outdoor bar.

Here’s the pics- enjoy!

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Bruce Salmon playing the benefit at the High Sierra. Jim Keaveny on tambourine. George Goss on beer.

Continue reading “Big Music Weekend in Terlingua”

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The Story of the Viva Terlingua Festival

The 1st Annual Viva Terlingua Music Festival is now just a fond memory, a hard-drive full of videos and photographs, and something to look back on as we plan next year’s festival.

By any standard, the fest was a success. By the standards I set out with the sponsors when we were planning it, it was a raging success.

Over 30 musical performances in two locations- performers from California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Old Mexico, and all over Texas joined us in the beautiful Big Bend of Texas. Many of them had never been here before. They’ll be back.

There were several highlights – Joe King Carrasco on Thursday night at the Starlight Theatre was legendary. People will be talking about that show for a long time.

Andres Cantisani, Aaron Todd, and the duo, Tahoma, jamming at the Thirsty Goat Saloon in Lajitas was a magical moment.

The New Vagabonds were definite crowd pleasers.

At the top of this page there’s a menu tab that says “music videos.”  Any time you want to see and hear Terlingua Music, that’s the place to go – and I’ll upload videos from the festival as I get them done.

Movies – we had movies.  

The Grove, Texas, is a documentary about a ghost town, somewhat like Terlingua, and the man who kept it going – and what it was like when he got old and had to sell it.

The Road to Austin, Gary Fortin’s masterpiece about Stephen Bruton’s final musical performance, features Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Kris Kristoffersen, Eric Johnson, and a cast of Austin’s finest pickers in a gorgeously produced film.

Local favorite, Crystal Allbright’s “Hoops For Rain,” was a trippy celebration of hula-hoops and cinematography.

We learned a lot about putting on a film festival this year, and next year’s festival will be much bigger.

Photography- Butch Hancock brought out several of his amazing photos for our exhibit. Crystal Allbright and Fran Brothers, among several others, also displayed their photos.

I exhibited my photos of Terlingua Musicians.  Continue reading “The Story of the Viva Terlingua Festival”

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Viva Terlingua Festival – Day 4

It’s a wrap.

The last night of Viva Teringua Fest kept the momentum going.  Due to a temporary casualty in the sound crew I had to run sound at Lajitas Sunday, so I didn’t get to the Starlight Theatre- we’ll round up some pics and reports from there, too.

I’m going to post pics- I have many stories to tell, and as soon as I’ve recovered from the weekend I’ll tell most of them.

Here’s a video of Jesse Brand and Butch Hancock doing a song-swap at the Thirsty Goat Saloon-

 

 

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Aaron Todd gave us a wonderful concert of classical and flamenco guitar.
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Andres Cantisani sang his lovely songs in Spanish and English. He also instigated the first jam session.
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Dan McCoy
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Jack Pledge was just here for the party – till we heard him play. He played “main stages” at least twice.
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Jason Blum
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Sweet harmonies, excellent songs- Tahoma.