Last year, Antone’s co-owner Will Bridges and talent buyer Zach Ernst relaunched the festival after nightclub founder Clifford Antone started the shindig in his name back in 1999. Now expanding to two days, the event opens at 12pm and runs until 10:30pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday’s musical festivities kick off at 1pm with sets by Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, the Blind Boys of Alabama with Bobby Rush, Dumpstaphunk, the Original Pinettes Brass Band, and The Altons & Thee Sinseers. Surviving King of Austin Blues Jimmie Vaughan performs with his Tilt-A-Whirl Band, plus Sue Foley and Soul Man Sam, at 7pm, warming up the stage for a 9pm set from Chicago innovator Buddy Guy, who christened the inaugural Antones’s fest 25 years ago.
Sunday begins with Robert Finley, the 70-year-old musician who released his first album in 2016, on Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound. From there, the stage welcomes UK singer James Hunter, Afro-Cuban funk artist Cimafunk, and – performing twice – the Pinettes, touted as the world’s only all-female brass band. The day blurs the lines of genre with closing sets by Queen of Bounce Big Freedia, Houston-born jazz pianist Robert Glasper, and Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard, two albums into a soul-rock solo career.
Check out the full festival schedule below.
In addition to music, the Austin Blues Festival invites Goodwill Central Texas, Planet K, and Big Henry’s Vinyl & Gifts to pop up at the event. Available via the event’s website, single-day passes start at $80 and two-day tickets begin at $130, though organizers warn prices will increase this Friday, April 12. A portion of ticket sales benefit the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy.
This article appears in April 5 • 2024.
