Reserve Friday, April 2, to join us at Schreiner for “Recall” at the Texas Music Coffeehouse from 8:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. in the Cailloux Student Center on campus. Not only are we celebrating a homecoming for Schreiner alumni, but we are featuring the Schreiner International Club during the open mike.

  And the featured band, a 9-piece Latin funk band called Ghandaia, will provide the ultimate in “ritmo.” That means some of us just might have to dance! Pablo Larios, who once went to Schreiner, is in this fascinating world-beat band. Ghandaia had a successful coffeehouse gig here several years ago. Now it’s time to make the party bigger!

  I had some great musical experiences at South by Southwest this year. On a Thursday at Mother Egan’s in Austin, I heard Ruthie Foster, Cyd Cassone and Susan Gibson in one night. That’s a lot of woman power! Ruthie is fast becoming a local favorite, and I’ve invited her back to the September Living History Weekend to participate in the blues panel of scholars on Saturday, September 25. I’d love to showcase her again at the Literacy and Learning Concert on Sunday. If you have not heard “Runaway Soul,” or “Smalltown Blues,” or any of the stories Ruthie Foster has to tell, you have missed a Texas treasure. She was also part of the March 28 showcase of Texas music put on by Texas State University, the Center for Texas Music History and Gary Hartman. Yep, she’s  from central Texas and becoming central to the story of Texas music. All who love Ruthie, stand up and say “Amen!”

  Susan also tells stories, different stories. After spending time in Amarillo and writing “Wide Open Spaces,” a song taken to the top of the charts by the Dixie Chicks, Susan is touring behind a new CD entitled “Chin Up,” a collection of 14 original songs. Another strong women giving new perspectives on this genre called “Texas Music.”

  I also attended the showcase for New West Records, a great label featuring artists with an edge. First I listened (and rocked) to Delbert McClinton, pondering the question as to whether I had been “rocked enough.” La Zona Rosa was the perfect venue for this big crowd to pack together moving to the music. Dwight Yoakum took the stage at midnight. He played several medleys of his many hits, just to get in as many familiar songs as possible. Playing with a three-piece that included a stand-up bass, he began by sitting in front of a music stand and singing soulfully some new songs. What an evening!

  Hard to make choices at SxSW, for sure. I also attended another label showcase for Loudhouse Records. Now Ponty Bone has played Kerrville for many years, most recently at the Hill Country Opry. He’s on this label, along with Mike Kindred and David Olney. Troy Campbell (formerly of Loose Diamonds) adds his great songwriting to this exciting roster. Bukka Michaels, percussionist extraordinaire, is the label owner, and the party under the spreading oaks at his big white house in Austin was a highlight of SxSW, for me, and for the group filling that big back yard. David Olney, with Ricard Bowden doing his fiddler on the roof jig, was a discovery for me, although the world has certainly found him out! I love his songs, his delivery, his use of space and rhythm. And he’s booked at the Kerrville Folk Festival again.

  Better block out the last week of May and first two weeks of June for the greatest music show in town, the Kerrville Folk Festival. Check out their website for details. www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com.

   Ahead is the songwriters workshop at Old #9 in Waring featuring Peter Rowan, April 23-25. The Saturday night concert is open to the public. Tickets sell out fast! Peter is one of those amazing creative people that defy classification. Just check out “Old and In The Way” for some surprises. He’s played with Bill Monroe and Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead. Peter can bring any music to a new level with his voice. Oops, I’m beginning to rave again!

  We can find more information on everything by using the world wide web. Be sure and send me your schedules (musicians) and your stories (fans) and your information (PR companies). Send to kat@maverickbbs.com with a reference to “column” news. Happy trails and down the road.