Texas, the cradle of music

Country heroes, festivals and a ghost town making music

Berkel en Rodenrijs, November 16 2019: Many legends like Janis Joplin, Roy Orbison or Buddy Holly and superstars of today like Beyoncé or Selena Gomez have something in common with their love for music: their home Texas. The state in the central south of the USA is considered the cradle of music. Its capital Austin bears the epithet “The live music capital of the world”. Nowhere else in the world is so much music played as there. The most diverse sounds accompany visitors from the airport of Austin to the smallest Texas villages.

Lubbock’s legend and his heirs

Lubbock is the eleventh largest city in Texas, which became world-famous above all by a man: Rock’n’Roll superstar Buddy Holly. Charles Hardin Holley – his birth name – is regarded as one of the most important musicians and producers of the Rock’n’Roll movement of the 50s. After Buddy Holly had appeared as a pre-musician for Elvis, his career got going. The exceptional talent worked together with superstars of the scene at that time and recorded several hits, among them “Peggy Sue”. Buddy Holly and two other musicians died in a plane crash at the age of 22. Since one song line of the famous song “American Pie” the anniversary of Hollys death is also called “The day the music died”. In Buddy Holly’s birthplace Lubbock, Buddy Holly Avenue and the Buddy Holly Center are reminiscent of the exceptional artist. There is still music in the air: artists follow in the footsteps of Buddy Holly and other musical idols from Lubbock in the open air or at venues such as Cactus Hall.

Luckenbach: Revived by music

The fact that music has a special power is well known. But that it can even live in abandoned places such as heritage is particularly impressive. This settlement is located 20 kilometres west of Fredricksburg. At its peak around 1900 it had almost 500 inhabitants. But Luckenbach has been considered a ghost town since the 60s at the latest, despite its picturesque location in Hill Country. Those who visit the town today will still be enchanted, because Luckenbach is a paradise for musicians. Their meeting point is the bar, which bears the same name as the place without frills. Life in Luckenbach takes place on 60 square metres, every evening musicians meet with their guitars and jam together. The preferred style of music is – typical for Texas – country. When the weather is fine, the musicians and their audience gather in front of the bar under the open sky, picturesquely framed by vineyards and hills. The small settlement of Luckenbach is an insider tip and yet still a cult. Country legends Waylon Jennings and Willy Nelson even dedicated a song to it: “Luckenbach, Texas – Back to the basics of love”, a big hit in 1977.

Austin: World Capital of Live Music

While Texas is considered the epitome of the Wild West, the state’s capital attracts with its pulsating life and flourishing music scene. Austin, the second largest state capital of the USA, offers fascinating sights such as the Texas State Capitol as well as a unique flair, which is not least due to the special relationship to music. From the bars and clubs of Sixth Street to street musicians on every corner to internationally famous festivals – Austin has earned the title “The World Live Music Capital”. The most famous festival of the city is the South by Southwest (SXSW), which takes place every year in March. Over 2,000 filmmakers, musicians and multimedia artists turn over 50 different locations in Austin into cinemas and concert halls. There are lectures, workshops and events throughout the city. In October, the elite of the Music Olympus will climb the stage at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. More than 130 artists will quake the audience on eight stages. Including greats such as Paul McCartney, The XX, The Killers, Portugal. The Man or Jay-Z. The festival attracts almost half a million visitors to the Texan capital every year.

© Copyright: Travel Texas

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