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 http://www.gruenehall.com

The complete October calendar is posted at  http://www.gruenehall.com. These are just a
few of the highlights. You can also read the newsletter on-line here.
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Just Added to Texas Style Musicfest -
Bruce Robison, and The Derailers!

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Events include wine tasting, food booths, guitar and silent auctions, great music,
a catered dinner, and more!
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   Fri. Oct. 5th    Gruene Music and Wine Fest    get tickets

Longtime Gruene Hall favorite, Delbert McClinton has been rocking the old walls for several decades now, with more than 40 years in the business.  He's a Texas legend and one of the greatest R&B musicians around. The Gruene Music and Wine Fest presents Delbert McClinton  an opportunity to meet Delbert in a casual setting at 5:45 pm, before his concert later that night.  Click here for more information on the big shi-bang or go directly to the ticket booth.
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      Sat. Oct. 6th      Gruene Music and Wine Fest     get tickets

One of the first Americana bands on the scene, it was thirty years ago in a Memphis recording studio that The Amazing Rhythm Aces made their first album, "Stacked Deck". For more than two decades, songs like "Third Rate Romance", "Amazing Grace (Used To Be Her Favorite Song)" and the Grammy-winning "The End Is Not In Sight" would remain etched in the hearts and minds of a generation as benchmarks of popular music's good old days. After recording six more albums and touring with everyone from Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett to Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles the group disbanded in 1981, but its songs lived on as radio staples and its albums were coveted by collectors.

In 1995 the original Aces teamed up to record a collection of their best-known material. Titled "Ride Again" and released on their own Breaker Records label, it was their first-ever CD.  By 1997, the re-formation was official; The Aces were back as a full-time band. "Nothin' But The Blue's" is the newest studio album. It features fourteen songs, five co-written with The Aces new guitarist and bluesmeister Fred James, and one tune with "The Dynamic Willie T." (Billy Earheart) with guest performances by Jimmie Hall and Gary Nicholson.   get tickets
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     Fri. Oct. 12th   get tickets

Robert Cray is a Blues artist for today. He has taken the lessons of the Blues and created a clean, modern sound that caters to today's musical ears without losing the pain of the past. He sells thousands of records and has national hits with "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark"  and "Forecast". Cray formed a Blues band in Eugene, Oregon in 1974. His first record was for Tomato records in 1977 after the label owners saw his performance at the San Francisco Blues festival. With 16 records and several famous collaborations with B.B. King, Keb' Mo', Eric Clapton, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, and Tina Turner, Cray has built probably the strongest commercial resume in the Blues. Robert Cray has a clean, sparse guitar style that relies heavily on touch instead of amp distortion. He is able to express detailed nuances that most guitarists roll over. His voice is capable of the same nuances, and the combination of his guitar results in airy, soulful ballerina-on-a-tightrope passages.  Latest news from 2007, in addition to a highly successful tour with Keb Mo,  Cray is featured in a new documentary called "Strat Masters". Guitar players will love this one. The film tells the story of the iconic Fender Stratocaster guitar and includes interviews with several great Stratocaster players. For more information, or to purchase the DVD, visit Strat Masters.
 

  Thursday, Oct. 18th  get tickets
 

Cross Canadian Ragweed established itself as a relentless touring band throughout the Texas/Oklahoma area and then broadened its reach, nationally releasing several albums of rebel-rousing alt-country. Formed in 1994 in Stillwater, OK, the band took its name from those of its members: frontman and lead guitarist Cody Canada, drummer Randy Ragsdale, rhythm guitarist Grady Cross, and bassist Jeremy Plato. Though the band toured heavily from its inception, establishing a particularly strong fan base in Texas, it didn't release its first album until 2001 when Underground Sounds released "Highway 377". Two more releases for the label followed, "Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog" (2001) and "Carney" (2002), before the band moved to Smith Music Group for "Live and Loud at Billy Bob's Texas" (2002). In 2004 the group signed to Universal South and released "Soul Gravy", followed by "Garage" in October of 2005. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide    Cross Canadian Ragweed's newest studio album, "Mission California", will be released October 2nd!
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Get Tickets Now!

        Sat. Oct. 27th   get tickets

After relocating to Gruene from upstate New York in the early 80's, and  moving on to Nashville fame in the 90's.  Hal Ketchum comes back home 20 years down the road for his 5th Annual Gruene Reunion. Gruene was home to Hal for many years while he worked his way up to national recognition. You might have caught him playing dominoes in the corner "locals" table, playing horseshoes in the beer garden, or painting a fence or two. As fine a wood craftsman as a songwriter, he's also been blessed with one of country music's finest voices. He only gets around here once a year these days, so don't miss him! Texas singer-songwriter, who's quite the vocalist herself,  Robin English and her band stop by for a set at 9 pm.
 

Tuesday and Wednesday Night Residency's at the Hall

Longtime sideman for high profile artists such as Willis Alan Ramsey, Eliza Gilkyson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Bruce Robison, Slaid Cleaves and currently Bob Schneider, Jeff Plankenhorn is also an accomplished songwriter as well as a great instrumentalist. With a slew of good songs and harmonies between them, Jeff and compadre Michael O'Conner (Susan Gibson, Slaid Cleaves) take up their Tuesday nights fall residency happening at Gruene Hall on most Tuesdays in October.

Given a great start by Tavern in the Gruene, and boasting of his debut album by the same name, Zack Walther (pronounced WaLTER) is one of the most promising up and comers in the Texas music scene today. Aptly named The Cronkites, Zack's band provides solid backing for originals and well picked cover songs. Zack takes up Wednesday nights at the Hall starting Oct. 3rd, playing for free from 7 pm - 10:30. Come on out!
 

More free shows in October....

Bugs' Birthday - Oct. 21st (5 pm)

Texas blues legend Bugs Henderson celebrates his birthday weekend at the Hall with a free show on Sunday, Oct. 21st at 5 pm. While somewhat reclusive, Bugs is well known in musician and professional circles.  Guitar One Magazine calls Bugs, "The world's greatest unknown guitar player. He can flat out blow most pickers away. Bugs will fry the skin off your butt with his monster chops and fatback tone." and Guitar Player Magazine says, "Bugs Henderson should be declared a national treasure.". They are both right plus Bugs knows how to sing a ballad too.
 

The Belleville Outfit - Oct. 20th (1-5)

Their average age is 20, and several of them have already been playing at Gruene Hall for a couple of years now. Rob Teter, Marshall Hood, and Jeff Brown all hail from The Deschamps Band of Spartanburg, South Carolina. They recently relocated to Austin, where they've joined up with Phoebe Hunt, formerly of The Hudsons, Conner Forsyth on piano, and added Jonathen Konya on drums. They are one of the most musically accomplished bands that we have on our roster, all expert instrumentalists and gifted vocalists and songwriters. Already making a name for themselves on the festival circuit after a very successful show at the prestigious East coast festival Merlefest, these kids have great things in their future. Come see them while you can!
 

Band of Heathens DVD Release   Oct. 28th  (5 pm)

2007's most successful and endearing bands, The Band of Heathens, have a new DVD available, recorded this past summer at Antone's in Austin. They've also been working hard on a new CD, which will be out in early spring. Come hear some new songs and some old favorites on Oct. 28th at 5 pm.
 
 

15th Annual Texas Clay Festival in Gruene, Texas

       Sat-Sun,  Oct. 27th & 28th    free

Swirling wet clay, flaming hot kilns and incredible imaginations have always been part of the Texas Clay Festival and this year is no exception. Educating the public in the ceramic arts has been one of the goals of the organizers of the festival since it’s inception in 1992. This is not just another craft show! This year’s show will feature over fifty fine crafts people working in clay today. The work ranges from functional stoneware pottery to decorative sculpture. For more information, see the festival website.