AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One of the longest continuously running music festivals happens in the Central Texas area, but it's surprisingly not in Austin.
While Austin is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World" and plays host to many music festivals and events throughout the year, an 18-day-long music fest -- which touts itself as being the oldest music festival in Texas -- was established 53 years ago in Austin's backyard: the Hill Country.
The Kerrville Folk Festival was founded by Rod Kennedy in 1972, and it's still going strong.
According to an article from the Texas State Historical Association, the first Kerrville Folk Festival was held June 1 through 3, 1972, in the 1,200-seat Kerrville Municipal Auditorium. Nearly 3,000 fans from all over Texas and as far away as Colorado attended the thirteen-performer event.
The article from the association also credited several Austin-based programs as the foundation from which the Kerrville Folk Festival came.
"The festivals at Kerrville were a direct outgrowth of the Austin Zilker Park KHFI–FM Summer Music festivals (1964–68), the Chequered Flag folk-music club on Lavaca Street in Austin (1967–70), and the eight Longhorn Jazz festivals (1966–73), as well as the 'live' and recorded programs of Austin folk artists produced on KHFI–AM–FM–TV during the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s."
Texas State Historical Association, Rod Kennedy
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Kerrville Folk Festival 2022 (Photo courtesy: Kerrville Folk Festival) -
Kerrville Folk Festival 2023 (Photo courtesy: Kerrville Folk Festival) -
Kerrville Folk Festival (Photo courtesy: Kerrville Folk Festival) -
Kerrville Folk Festival grounds (Photo courtesy: Kerrville Folk Festival) -
Kerrville Folk Festival grounds (Photo courtesy: Kerrville Folk Festival) -
Kerrville Folk Festival 2024 (Photo courtesy: Kerrville Folk Festival)
Thursday marked the start of the 2025 iteration of the festival, which is held at Quiet Valley Ranch and will run through June 8. The festival's website estimates that around 30,000 people attend.
The Kerrville Folk Festival features more than 100 performing songwriters in "intimate musical settings," according to its website. It also offers music workshops, schools, seminars, and activities for all ages.
The fest's website says it "focuses on nurturing and developing artistic expression, especially the art of songwriting, in a loving family-friendly environment."
A "high point" of the festival is the annual Grassy Hill New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Winners are taken on a Texas tour of "high-value performance opportunities," according to the website.
Other programming offered includes: Songwriters' School, Ukulele Workshop, Harmonica Workshop, Guitar Classes, and YAPI (Young Artists’ Performance Incubator).
Schedule and lineup
Every day of the schedule is packed, with activities planned to start as early as 9 a.m. on some days. There are a variety of offerings happening on the festival grounds outside of just musical performances.
When guests aren't watching folk artists take the stage, they can participate in things like yoga, canoe trips, bike rides, nature walks, meditation, workshops, panels, and more. Full details of each day's breakdown are available online.
Weekend One Lineup, May 22-25:
Dale Watson
Adeem the Artist
Creekbed Carter Hogan
Emilie Clepper
Gabe Lee
Handmade Moments
Jeffery Foucault
Lily Talmers
Lucy Clearwater
Peter Rowan
Rachel Sumnar
Sean McConnell
The Hooten Hallers
The Secret Sisters
The Wilder Blue
Yarn
Midweek One Lineup, May 26-29:
Andrew Delaney
Andy Gullahorn
Fox Run Five Celebrates Tom Prasada-Rao
J Wagner
Robin Bienemann
Weekend Two Lineup, May 30-June 1:
Betty Soo
Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore
FRUITION
Goodnight, Texas
Hayes Carll
KC Clifford
Mia Borders
Next Of Kin
Nicky Diamonds
Prophets And Outlaws
Shovels & Rope
The Peterson Brothers
Midweek Two Lineup, June 2-5:
Daniel Neihoff
Jenny Reynolds
Karyn Oliver
R.O. Shapiro
Steve Fisher
Tim Easton
Weekend Three Lineup, June 6-8:
Carsie Blanton
Caleb Caudle
Lila Blue
The Band of Heathens
John Craigie
Chris Smither
Bob Schneider
Rainbow Girls
Urban Pioneers
Rock Bottom String Band
Scott Mulvahill
