28th Annual Old Settler’s Music Festival
Thursday-Sunday, April 16-19, 2015
Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch, FM 1826 south of Austin, Texas
Available Saturday, November 15 at 10 am: Discounted early-bird packages/camping
Tickets/information: oldsettlersmusicfest.org
The Old Settler’s Music Festival has been a highlight of every Austin spring since 1987; the 2015 festival, held at the Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch from Thursday, April 16 to Sunday, April 19, is shaping up to be the most exciting one yet.
Over the course of four days, about thirty Americana music acts will perform on the festival’s four stages. Grammy-winning, country-steeped garage band The Mavericks top the bill with their infectious, feel good energy. The festival is known for its wide variety of roots music acts, this year ranging from soul-stirring gospel group The McCrary Sisters to returning ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. Both traditional and progressive bluegrass take center stage thanks to living legend Sam Bush, supergroup Hot Rize (touring behind its first studio album in more than 20 years), award-winning traditionalists Dailey & Vincent, and genre-bending The Infamous Stringdusters.
Alt-country sweethearts Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, country rock crooners Green River Ordinance, Jack White fave Pokey LaFarge, and critically acclaimed folk artist Israel Nash are slated to perform, too. Old Settler’s favorites Shinyribs, Jitterbug Vipers and MilkDrive return in 2015, much to the delight of campers and festivalgoers. Langhorne Slim, who wowed the festival audience in 2011, returns as well. Newcomers The Defibulators, Lauren Shera, Rising Appalachia and Darlingside round out this partial lineup. More acts will be announced in the near future.
Discounted early-bird packages go on sale beginning November 15 at 10 am. Camping packages have sold out completely for the last three years and the festival plans to offer fewer camping tickets this year. Purchasing early assures access to the popular Ben McCulloch grounds, the site of one stage and countless impromptu jam sessions.
A four-day camping wristband starts at $220, nearly 20% less than the gate price. Three-day camping passes (Friday-Sunday) are $205, while a three-day non-camping package is only $140. Only a limited number of discounted early bird passes will be available. After that, a set quantity of advance passes will be available at an increased price.
A platinum package ($480) provides a unique VIP experience. The all-access pass includes a four-day camping wristband, a campground electrical permit, complimentary meals Friday and Saturday backstage at the Salt Lick Pavilion, free snacks and drinks served during Salt Lick concerts, a special festival poster and tee-shirt, and a chance to meet and mingle with the impressive lineup of performers.
Also, RV/trailer passes ($100 with hookups) come with both a campground electrical permit and parking for one car included. The festival has a limited number of RV/Trailer passes in 2015. In order to make the campground more comfortable for festivalgoers, a car camping fee of $60 per vehicle has been implemented. There is no charge to leave cars in the festival’s satellite lot. Transportation to and from the satellite lot will be provided via a convenient shuttle. Storage lockups will also be available at Camp Ben for any festivalgoers who wish to store their valuables in a secure location.
About Old Settler’s Music FestivalOld Settler’s Music Festival offers bluegrass, folk and Americana acts performing on four stages over four days, along with camping in the beautiful Texas hill country. Many music fans return annually for amazing performances by award-winning artists such as Richard Thompson, The Del McCoury Band, Bruce Hornsby, Iron & Wine, Yonder Mountain String Band, Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck and favorite locals such as Patty Griffin, Bob Schneider and Sarah Jarosz. For more information, visit oldsettlersmusicfest.org.
