Tonight, Wednesday, is an opportunity for you to experience the unity and world consciousness that is possible through music. Oliver Rajamani, originally from Southern India, brings his own special blend of highly rhythmic music to the Texas Music Coffee House at Schreiner University. Oliver, now based in Austin, has learned music by traveling and studying throughout the world. Come at 7:00 for the open mic and enjoy the coffee. Oliver takes the stage in the Cailloux snack bar at 8:00.

Ahead, on Tuesday, April 8, is the Texas Writers Conference at Schreiner, featuring the writing and masks of Anne Schneider, along with readings by Schreiner professors and students. Join us at 7:30 for the readings, followed by a reception and booksigning.

One way to get definitive information on Texas music is to subscribe to Texas Music Magazine by going to www.txmusic.com This magazine provides columns, stories and event listings that every music lover will want to have.

A mere 19 miles away, in Comfort, Texas, we also have the opportunity to experience a Texas music festival on April 12. "Comfort's Best in Texas Music Festival" is the brainstorm of Katie Key, editor and Texas chart manager for Best in Texas magazine. This publication, based in Houston, is a product of Shane Media and give full coverage to rising talent as well as providing a chart that ranks artists and songs in Texas music. See www.TexasMusicChart.com for that information.

The March issue is the "Annual Cory Morrow" issue. Katie Key wrote a story on Jason Allen, a "Star on the Horizon." Libbi Bosworth, a Texas singer/songwriter submits a column called "Postcards from Libbiville, USA." The issue also contains a story on "The Simple Man," Billy Joe Shaver. Someone we know and love in this community. Just ask Kinky Friedman tonight, April 2, 5-7 p.m. at Wolfmueller's Books and Records.

Kinky will be on hand to sign his next book, Kill Two Birds and Get Stoned, one that deviates (Kinky would love that word!) from his usual mystery plot. Kinky tours with Billy Joe, most recently in Australia. Guess all you readers know that Kinky began as a Texas music "star," bringing Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys to new heights (or depths) by touring with Bob Dylan and Rolling Thunder Review.

Also on hand at Wolfmueller's will be Max Swofford, signing his book, The Kinky Files, a biography that includes photos, interviews and anecdotes. To round out the triumverate (Yes, Kinky deals in three's also.), Simon DeVries will be there to sign her new DVD, a documentary that I saw at South by Southwest last year.

Like all Kinky booksignings, this one will be a party and a reunion of lost souls. It's worth the trip just to eye the crowd. Diversity? Deviates? Devotees?

And now back to the Comfort Music Festival. Yes, I, too, deviate from the outline of this column (Ha) from time to time. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., a full day of music and fun is only $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. The performer list includes Tracie Lynn (I heard her at the Cabaret in Bandera once. Her voice is pure country!), Cooder Graw (Heard them at a Texas Music Magazine party on Sixth Street. They rock! Later I heard them at a Willie Nelson picnic. Expect a frattoire solo.), Django Walker (Willie loved Django Reinhardt, the French gypsy violinist, and Jerry Jeff Walker must have loved him to. Django has big shoes to fill.), Sister Morales (I recently heard them at Gallista Gallery in San Antonio. Beautiful sisters and beautiful music.) and Stephanie Urbina Jones (Have I said enough about her?)

Don't miss this day of very special music. Call 1-866-tex-fest or go to www.comfortmusicfest.com for tickets.

The music publications and the papers that run music columns are all part of the bigger story of Texas music. We have a Texas music office in Austin, run in an excellent way by Casey Monohan, a man who once wrote stories on Texas music for the Austin-American Statesman. And another important publication has been born in the Hill Country, The Rising Star. Coming to us straight from the Double D Restaurant in Comfort, Texas, this publication provides listings of local venues and feature stories on, guess what, "rising stars." I know of one local outlet for this free publication, my office in Weir 102 at Schreiner University. I suspect the Melody Corner on the Junction Highway in Kerrville also carries this free publication.

A few more events: Mike Blakely, singer/songwriter and novelist, will play Armadillo on the River in Comfort on April 4. Fiddle Chick and Wild Turkeys play April 5. Java Pump (www.javapump.com) has Karoke on Thursdays, Big Hands on April 4 and Louis Real hosting an open mic on April 5. The Ol' Waterin' Hole always has good Texas music on the weekends. Don't forget Double D in Comfort, Nelson City Dance Hall and The Scenic Loop Café for other good venues.

Free Leonard and Happy Trails. Contact me at khudson@schreiner.edu and see www.texasheritagemusic.org for more information.

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