Visitors to Gruene received a special treat on a Tuesday afternoon in June when the greatest country music star of all time, George Strait  was spotted in town. Strait picked Gruene to shoot photos for the cover of his forthcoming new release called “Twang.” The CD is set to release on August 11th.  The back cover of Strait's first album, Strait Country (1981), featured a picture of Strait in the front room of Gruene Hall.

     Sat., Aug. 15th   (tickets at the door only)

Ray Wylie Hubbard is one of the true great songwriters in Texas music. If you want some cues on how to write a song, Hubbard is the one to study. It's his poetic imagination saturated in reality and often times humor that keeps the career of 62 year old Hubbard fresh and his live shows entertaining.  Other achievements include a successful radio show, a comic book/ dvd put out by Collection Agency Films that features Ray's stories, and most recently Hubbard cowrote a screenplay with award winning director Tiller Russell called The Last Rites of Ransom Pride. -  a western set around 1910 on the border of Mexico and Texas. The cast includes Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam, Lizzy Caplan, Scott Speedman, and Jason Priestley amongst others.  Tom Gillam, opens the show.  Tickets at the door only for this one.

Fiddle magic happens at Gruene Hall the weekend of August 22nd when three of the
state's top fiddle-swing based groups play free afternoon shows!

Sat. Aug. 22nd  (1-5 pm) - Warren Hood  was a mere 15 years old when he first came to Gruene Hall and sat in with his dad Champ Hood......about the age that Ruby Jane is now.  Warren grew into one of the top fiddle players in the nation, and travels year round with The Waybacks proving it.  When not with The Waybacks, he heads his own group, The Hoodlums, who fit like a glove with Hood's playing and songwriting.   (free show)

Sun. Aug. 23rd  (12:30-4:30) -  PIctured above with Lyle Lovett, Ray Benson and Elizabeth McQueen, 15 year old Ruby Jane is already a popular choice for guest fiddle player and has sat in with these folks as well as Willie Nelson and many others.  Her accolades are well documented on her webpage, including an interview on CBS Evening News conducted when she was just 11 years old.  She holds her own as a band leader with a down to earth stage presence and a talented band that often includes Marvin Dykhuis, Willie Pipkin, David Carroll, and Ron Erwin. (free show)

Sun. Aug. 23rd  (5-9 pm) - Longtime Gruene Hall favorites Hot Club of Cowtown continue the fiddle madness with a rare Sunday afternoon set.  Fiddle player Elana James also tops the list of great fiddle players, her history including a stint with Bob Dylan amongst others. Whit Smith and Jake Erwin are swing masters of their instruments (guitar and bass respectively) as well and the trio remains one of the most sought after swing combo's around. Hot Club of Cowtown's brand new CD, Wishful Thinking, is now available throughout Europe and the UK and will be released in the USA on August 18th!  (free show)
 
 

Coming in September:  Chris Knight, Charlie Robison, Stonehoney, Jason Eady (Cd release), Hal Ketchum's Gruene Reunion, The Gourds, Dave Gonzales & The Stone River Boys, Mark Stuart & the Bastard Sons, Bleu Edmonson, Seth Walker, and more.......