Music - Bluebonnet Festival

If you’re a music fan, then this year’s Bluebonnet Festival is just what you are looking for! A stellar line-up of local artists and performers coupled with a few well-known Texas performers will take the Main Stage on Washington Street, as well as the Jackson Street Stage.

The live music begins Friday evening and jams through Sunday afternoon. Concerts on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday are free. A $15 admission fee will be charged for Saturday night headliner band performances, which includes a street dance. $5 Cooler Charge can be purchased at the gate.

Friday, April 12th

6:00pm – Texas Crossing (Jackson Street Stage)

The native Texas Duo “Texas Crossing” are guaranteed to bring your crowds to their feet with their high energy traditional style country mixed with contemporary sounds They deliver the original country sounds with a classic background! Today’s country with yesterday’s heart and soul…”

7:30pm – Kick-off Street Dance with Gary P. Nunn (Main Stage)

Gary P. Nunn has been TAKING TEXAS TO THE COUNTRY and Texas country to the world for some 40 years now, establishing himself as an icon of Lone Star music. A founding father of the progressive country movement out of Austin in the 1970s that changed the face of popular music, Nunn is also an independent music pioneer who continues to oversee his own record label and song publishing companies, manage his own career (with the help of his wife Ruth), and play most every weekend at top music venues throughout Texas and beyond. His composition “London Homesick Blues” — with its internationally known “I wanna go home with the Armadillo” chorus — is a signature Texas country song that was the theme for the PBS concert TV show “Austin City Limits” for nearly three decades. It’s no wonder that All Music Guide hails him as “a Texas music institution.”

Saturday, April 13th

12:30pm – Ben Watson & The Hired Guns (Main Stage)

Come enjoy one of Burnet’s best local bands, Hired Guns. This band is a real crowd pleaser, voted several times as Burnet’s Favorite Local Band. The band has performed at the Bluebonnet Festival for the past 14 years. This band plays a variety of music sure to please everyone and has as much fun as the audience. Band members are Ben Watson, Bert Rivera, Lonnie Atkinson, Dodd Meredith and Ricky Turpin.

1:30pm – Matthew Butter (Jackson Street Stage)

Born and raised in South Texas, Matthew Butter’s story is filled with a history of music, writing and speaking. His father is a preacher, his mother a worship leader. His grandmother and grandfather are published authors, sister is a published author, aunts and uncles performed in clubs, theaters, and venues all over the south. These are the fabrics of Matthew’s artistic journey, a history that has shaped him into the person he is today.

Matthew sings songs about life – some sad, some hopeful, some joyous…all real. He also plays both covers and originals in a variety of genres but mainly Country, Gospel, and Americana. In 2011, his first album was released, entitled Life is Grand produced by David Beck of the Bands Sons of Fathers and Blue Healer.

2:15pm – Brooks Crossing (Main Stage)

Brooks Crossing Family Ministry is spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world! This unique family-based music ministry is primarily known for delivering the message of Christianity through Country Crossover Gospel Music. Although much of their music is geared toward the Country-Bluegrass genre, Brooks Crossing reaches out to a variety of audiences with their refreshing style and takes pleasure in the fact that all ages can appreciate the message of the Gospel through their music. The family’s story starts back in 2001 when the family experienced God and the message of the finished work of the Cross like never before. Jesus suddenly became very real and personal to their lives. Since then, they have felt lead to use their God-given gifts and talents for His glory. The tight-knit group says they have always enjoyed singing and delight in traveling around together doing what they love.

3:00pm – Brittney Nemec (Jackson Street Stage)

19-year-old Brittney Nemec (stage name Britt) is an aspiring musician from New Braunfels, TX. Pursuing music with the support of her friends and family, Britt performs passionately as a tribute to the people who have helped her grow as a musician. Check out her single on iTunes and Spotify, Burning This Love by Britt!

4:00pm – Trey Gilleland (Main Stage)

Born in Austin, and raised in the small town of Bertram TX, Trey liked classic country even as a kid, His grandmother was a big influence in his life, buying his first guitar at age 9, and encouraging him to learn how to play. He attended Northwest School of Music and by the age of 13, could play almost any song. Trey would like to bring classic country music back to country music radio. His musical hero is Merle Haggard, along with Johnny Lee, Ronnie Millsap, and TG Sheppard, who he had the privilege to open for last year in Lampasas TX, Recently, Trey joined drummer Randy Jarvis and together they formed his first band, Trey Gilleland and the Downbeat Band. Trey is proud to say he is a true Texan.and is determined to make it to the big stage of the Grand Ole Opry where he knows his grandmother will be watching over him every step of the way.

4:30pm – Allen Ray & Southern Comfort (Jackson Street Stage)

Today’s Allen Ray & the Southern Comfort Band is comprised of Allen Ray (lead guitar and vocals), Herb Black (bass guitar and vocals), John Needham (drums), Sammy Bradley (drums), and Justin Wallace (sound tech & guitar). Each member brings their unique flavor to the group and gives a renewed life to the music they bring to their shows which is certain to please any audience.

Saturday Night Concert

8:30pm – Shotgun Rider (Main Stage)

The Palo Duro Canyon runs through the Texas Panhandle for more than 100 miles. It’s an explosion of color in an otherwise lonely place, interrupting the area’s wide, windswept flatlands with steep canyon walls and vibrant rock formations.

Nearby, in a small house filled with musical instruments, the duo now known as Shotgun Rider began to craft a sonic landscape of their own. Bandmates Logan Samford and Anthony Enriquez had grown up nearby, in the farming communities of Castro County. They’d both been raised on the sounds of the south — the country hits that came across the FM radio; the gospel songs that Logan sang in the church choir; the George Strait albums that every Texan seemed to own — but loved the sweeping, hard-hitting anthems of bands like Kings of Leon, too. Drawing on those influences, they carved out their own sound: a mix of country twang and guitar-fueled rock & roll stomp, as epic and darkly cinematic as the Texas landscape that inspired it.

10:15pm – HEADLINER: Mike Ryan (Main Stage)

San Antonio-born Mike Ryan is set to enter the next phase of his career with the release of “New Hometown,” the lead single from his forthcoming album. Ryan set the bar quite high with the release of his last album Bad Reputation, in 2014, which featured a trio of number one singles on the Texas Music Charts. Ryan says he is more than excited to give his fans new music.

Ryan’s musical story began in the Lone Star state, his first exposure to music was from his grandfather, who directed the Texas National Guard Band for over 30 years. He became one of Ryan’s biggest musical influences, first learning the clarinet from him – among other instruments.

From there, Ryan taught himself how to play the guitar – though he admits he had to learn the art of patience. “I didn’t have lessons or anything. I just had some extra time on my hands when I finished high school football, so I picked up a guitar and hit the ground running.” Needless to say, he was hooked.

Besides the hit records, Ryan’s resume also includes winning New Male Vocalist of the Year at the Texas Regional Radio Awards in 2015. The list of sold-out venues he’s played around the country continues to grow. He’s also headlined several times at Billy Bob’s Texas an iconic nightclub in Fort Worth, admitting that it’s a special place.

With the release of his forthcoming new album, Ryan is hoping to make more music that his Texas audience loves, but he also wants to take his music all the way around the world. “I consider myself very fortunate to have the support from Texans that we do. We’ve actually been playing in the surrounding states for the past couple of years, and we’re getting further and further away from home all the time. I just want to keep making music that I am proud of and that I believe in. Texas has a lot of great fans, and I know the rest of the United States does as well. I’m ready to take it to them!”

Purchase Tickets ($15)

Sunday, April 14th

11:30am – Michael Ryan (Main Stage)

Michael Ryan grew up in a small Texas town in 1991 to Joe and Melanie Bleuel. At a young age Michael took to learning guitar and a general interest in music. In 2011, he attended the Southeast Texas Regional Fire Academy and served as a Firefighter with the Port Arthur Fire Department for 3 1/2 years. While working as a Firefighter, Michael went through life experiences that re-sparked his interest in music and song. He began working towards a music career in Christian Country Music. Local radio stations began to play Michael’s music as his music career exploded. Michael now travels the United States spreading God’s message through music and speaking. It is his goal for people to come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and experience the power of the Holy Spirit. He believes in the power, manifestations, and healing of the Holy Spirit as he is also involved with an International Christian ministry, Freedom Crusades. Michael received a songwriter of the year award at the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards show for his work on the single, “In Your Pasture.” He will be going on his “What I’ve Been Looking For” Tour 2019.”