Lockhart in full ‘western swing’

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LOCKHART — For the first time, the Western Swing and BBQ Festival will be held in Lockhart from Sept. 28-30.

Friday night’s event is the “Gathering” and includes the 31st Annual Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame Show at the Comanche Country Ranch located about five miles outside of Lockhart. It features Al Dressen’s Super Swing Revue with a 10-piece ensemble. The show features special guests Carolyn Martin, Kristyn Harris, Tony Harrison, Clint Strong, Joe Settlemires, Al Mouledous, Dave Martin, Louise Rowe, Casey Dickens, Dick Gimble, Georgia Parker and more. The show includes a fried catfish dinner with sides from 7-10 p.m.

On Saturday, the festival moves into downtown Lockhart with five stages in action including the Courthouse Stage, the Kreuz Market Stage, Black’s BBQ Stage, Smitty’s Market Stage, and the stage at the PEARL. Music starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning and ends at 10:30 p.m. Western Swing acts include: Carolyn Martin’s Western Swing Band, Kristyn Harris, Al Dressen’s Super Swing Revue, Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition, the Texan Playboys, the Gimbles, the Georgia Parker Band, and the Hall of Fame Band with many former Hall of Fame inductees coming to join in.

Saturday evening ends with the official festival dance held at the Courthouse Stage with a wooden dance floor. Music is by Carolyn Martin’s Western Swing Band with special guest Kristyn Harris.

Saturday’s activities are located fairly close together, walking distance for most, or you can move your car to another location where there is generally plenty of parking. For those who would like to be transported, vans and golf carts will be running between venues from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. to give a lift.

Sunday’s activities start at 11 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. at stages located at Smitty’s Market, Blacks BBQ, the PEARL, and Kreuz Market.

Call or text 512-745-0659, or email adressen@austin.rr.com, to get tickets for the Friday night Hall of Fame Show or the Saturday evening dance. Dance tickets only are also available on Eventbrite, online. All other events are free to the public for the entire weekend. Call, text or email to receive a copy of the entire schedule for the weekend and ticket information. Also check out Lockhart Western Swing & BBQ Festival 2018 on Facebook right now, or visit our new website at lockhartfest.com for more information.

Lockhart invites you to this very special Western Swing Music Festival where it feels just like the old days. Let Lockhart take care of you. They’ve got Western Swing, real Texas style BBQ in the BBQ Capital of Texas, one very beautiful courthouse, coffee houses, all kinds of other wonderful foods, Texas history, a State Park, and as some say, “We’re Thirty Miles From Weird.”

Come to Lockhart, where it feels like Texas.

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