Austin Aqua Festival '97
Fri., July 25, 1997
Many Austinites make the mistake of thinking Austin's yearly nine-day gathering at Auditorium Shores is about hip booking and Sixth Street fare. Sure, there's some of that: Tejano acts Stefani and Emilio; Zydeco stalwarts Li'l Brian and File; country mavericks Dale Watson and Cornell Hurd; and gospel acts Malachi and Hearts of Joy are all about hip. Solid. But really, so much of Aqua Fest is about children and family: the nightly carnival, featuring rides, foods, games; the parade from Palmer Auditorium to Congress (Saturday, July 26); the Water Parade (Friday, August 1, though it may be canceled due to recent flooding); and fireworks, oh how the children love fireworks (also August 1).
More than that, however, there's the fact that Aqua Fest, a non-profit, philanthropic organization, has donated several million dollars to the Austin Parks and Recreation Dept, which in turn has made possible such local children's landmarks as the playscape in Zilker Park and the Mary Moore Searide Park - as well as renovations for the Zilker Hillside Theatre, and sprinklers for Auditorium Shores. This year, three fest nights (July 25, 29, 31) find $2 of your entrance fees going to various charities: to Capitol Area Foodbank (bring cans of food and diapers), KVUE-24's "For the Children School Supply Drive" (pencils, crayons, glue), and APD's Operation Blue & Brown Santa (new and used toys), respectively.
So, pony up that $5 or buy a $1 "Skipper Pin," which gets you $2 off at the door; Skipper Pins can be purchased at Lakeline Mall, Barton Creek Square, Maldonado's Record & Video Shop, Cavender's Boot City, and all 11 Austin Shoe Hospitals. Transportation is being furnished by Cap Metro's free shuttles, which leave from Austin High School, Barton Creek Mall, and the State Lots at 14th & San Jacinto every 15 minutes on weeknights (6:30-11:30pm), and weekends (6:30-12:30pm). If you've had too much to drink, American Yellow Cab is giving free rides home. Check the Aqua Fest website
http://www.aquafest.com or call 472-5664 for more info.
Yes, it's a good cause. Besides, you can see the punk version of Doodle Bug the Clown at the Electric Lounge some other time. Or not. -- Raoul Hernandez
| Date | Center Stage | West Stage | Brew Pub Stage | Captain Barton's Cove |
| Thursday, July 24 (Reggae/Rock) | Hot Wax (7:30-9pm) The Spinners (9:15-11pm) | Killer Bees (7:15-9pm) Ugly Americans (9:15-11pm) | Moonjell (7-8:45pm) Polite Society (9-10:45pm) | Sparkle the Fairy Princess (7:30pm) Doodle Bug the Clown (8:30pm) |
| Friday, July 25 (Tejano) | Stefani (8-9:45pm) Jay Perez (10:15-Midnite) | Ruth (7:45-9:30pm) Jaime y Los Chamacos (9:45-11:30pm) | Zabor (7:30-9:15pm) Project VI (9:30-11:15pm) | Hand to Mouth Puppet Theatre (7:30pm) Hand to Mouth Puppet Theatre (8:30pm) |
| Saturday, July 26 (Country) | Brady Seals (8-9:45pm) Jeff Carson (10:15-Midnite) | Cornell Hurd Band (7:45-9:30pm) Dale Watson (9:45-11:30pm) | Mondo Beyondo (7:30-9:15pm) Janet Lynn (9:30-11:15pm) | Captain Connie (7:30pm) Bonzo Crunch (8:30pm) |
| Sunday, July 27 | Urban Roots (1:15-2:15pm), Tribal Nation (2:30-3:30pm), Ras Iginga (3:45-4:45pm), Zion (5-6pm), One Destiny (6:15-7:15pm), Wasobia (7:30-8:30pm), Buffalo Soldier (8:45-10pm) | |||
| Tuesday, July 29 (Gospel/Inspirational) | Buffalo Soldier (7:30-8pm) Crosswind (8:15-8:45pm) Elgin Comm. Choir (9-9:30pm) Mt. Olive Baptist Church (9:45-10:15pm) | Tx Revival of Houston (7:15-7:45pm) Malachi (8-8:30pm) Potters Clay (8:45-9:15pm) Ungidos (9:30-10pm) | Tx Revival of San Antonio (7-7:30pm) Hearts of Joy (7:45-8:15pm) | Austin P. Roadman Show (7-9pm) |
| Wednesday, July 30 (Country) | Lost Wolf (7:30-9pm) John Berry (9:15-11pm) | Don Walser (7:15-9pm) Geezinslaws (9:15-11pm) | Pete Benz (7-8:45pm) Dottsy & Two-Way Street (9-10:45pm) | Austin P. Roadman Show (7-7:30pm/9-9:30pm) Lucas Miller (7:30), Lawrence Sullivan Prod. (8:30pm) |
| Thursday, July 31 (R&B/Soul/Zydeco) | Laurie Marks (7:30-9pm) Storyville (9:15-11pm) | Li'l Brian (7:15-9pm) Filé (9:15-11pm) | Fair Play (7-8:45pm) Omar & the Howlers (9-10:45pm) | Austin P. Roadman Show (7-7:30pm/9-9:30pm) Lawrence Sullivan Prod. (7:30pm) Lucas Miller (8:30pm) |
| Friday, August 1 (Multicultural) | David Lee Garza (8-9:45pm) Bobby Pulido (10:15-Midnite) | Jack Ingram (7:45-9:30pm) Emilio (9:45pm-11:30pm) | Dutch Treat (7:30-8pm/8:30-9pm) Jubliee Polka Band (8-8:30pm/9-9:30pm) Walburg Boys Band (10:30-Midnite) | Austin P. Roadman Show (7-7:30pm/9-9:30pm) Csardas Hungarian Dancers Prod (7:30pm) Lawrence Sullivan Prod. (8:15pm) Captain Connie (9pm) |
| Saturday, August 2 (Tejano) | Lazzo (7-8pm) Eddie Gonzalez (8:15-10pm) La Tropa F (10:15-Midnite) | Cale Seis (7:45-9:30pm) YaYo & Rumors (9:45-11:30pm) | The Plow Boyz (7:30-9:15pm) Sister Sister (9:30-11:15pm) | Austin P. Roadman Show (7-7:30/9-9:30pm) Ballet Folklorico (7:30pm) Bonzo Crunch (8:30pm) |
