Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Brandi Carlile will headline the 2019 Old Settler’s Music Festival, the festival announced today, with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit performing an intimate acoustic set. Central Texas’s only spring festival offering bluegrass, folk, and Americana performers on three stages over four days, Old Settler’s Music Festival has released the first glimpse of the 2019 lineup, slated for April 11-14 in Tilmon, TX. Early Bird tickets to the festival have already sold out, and advance tickets are available now at www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org.
2019 will mark the festival’s second year in its new home of Tilmon, Southeast of Lockhart, TX, and conveniently located less than an hour from Austin and San Antonio, and approximately two hours from Houston.
Four-time Grammy Award winner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile lead the 2019 bill, with support acts ranging from bluegrass icons the Del McCoury Band and Texas supergroup “Los Legends” featuring Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyers, Rick Trevino, Y Amigos, to up-and-comers like 2017 Americana Music Emerging Artist of the Year Award-winner Amanda Shires.
Old Settler’s Music Festival has made a name for itself as a discovery ground for future roots, Americana, and folk artists: Texas’s own Shakey Graves got his name at the festival, and festival alumni include this year’s headliner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Allison Krauss, Lake Street Dive, and many more.
Longtime festival favorites Shinyribs will return to Old Settler’s in 2019 to play two shows, and other performers include Galactic, Hayes Carll, Wild Child, Penny and Sparrow, Mandolin Orange, The Steeldrivers, the James Hunter Six, Robert Ellis, Paul Thorn, John Moreland, Paul Cauthen, The Last Bandoleros, Sarah Grace & The Soul, Wood & Wire, Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons, Jeff Plankenhorn, and Feeding Leroy. Additional artists will be announced soon.
In 2019, the festival will collaborate with independent Texas concert promoter Kessler Presents for the first time. With historic venues like The Kessler Theater (Dallas) and The Heights Theater (Houston), Kessler Presents has built a reputation for curated live music in unique environments.
Old Settler’s Music Festival Executive Director Jean Spivey said of the collaboration, “Old Settler’s chose to collaborate with Kessler Presents because they fully understand what makes our festival such an incredible experience. Their excellent reputation not only in Texas, but nationally allows us to reach a level in terms of artists and festival growth we never thought possible. With our new location, we have the space and ability to grow our family of regular and new Old Settler’s attendees and campers for 2019 and beyond.”
“Old Settler’s has always been my favorite Texas music festival,” said Kessler Presents owner Edwin Cabaniss. “Through its 31 years it has become a community of real music fans seeking discovery and authentic performances presented with the best of Texas hospitality. Like all of Kessler Presents’ projects, we want to preserve the history and culture that makes the experience so special, while also helping take the festival to the next level.”
With a diverse group of activities for all festival-goers, Old Settler’s Music Festival will again offer camping (which often includes impromptu jam sessions); Camp ShhhTimes, a completely unplugged late night listening area; a youth talent competition; a juried arts and crafts fair; and many kid-friendly activities.
