For the very first time, the Viva Big Bend Festival came to South Brewster County.

 

Trevor Hickle and I found out a few days before the shows that we were going to be the sound crew for the festival. This involved some scrambling and long days, but allowed us to meet and hear some new friends and hang out with some old buddies.

It was a blast. The O’s, Butch and Rory Hancock, and Mike and the Moonpies were professional and put on amazing shows. Emilie Clepper premiered her new band and pretty much floored us all in English and French.

Wednesday night was also George Goss’s birthday, and he brought his party to Lajitas- cake and everything – so the crowd was twice as big and several times as festive. George was also celebrating the 1,000,000th view of his “Ain’t No Honky Tonks in Jail” video on YouTube. Quit a birthday present!

It was a great rehearsal for the upcoming Viva Terlingua Festival.  It was also exhausting, and it was just six bands in two days at one location. I have a suspicion that running sound and co-ordinating 30+ acts over four days at two locations is going to be an adventure.

Now we know what gear we need to acquire (mics, lights, backline, direct boxes) and have a better idea of what’s going to be involved.

Pics from Viva Big Bend Festival below- enjoy!