Compiled by Insite Staff
The bottles will be uncorked! The barrels will be tapped! The beef will be served! Mark your calendars now for Sept. 27-29 for the annual Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival in Historic Downtown Bryan. Texas Reds is a Downtown Bryan Association event sponsored by the City of Bryan.
“Once again, we are excited to welcome residents and visitors alike to the Annual Texas Reds Steak and Grape Festival,” says Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson. “From delicious wines, juicy steaks, and incredible craft beer to a kids’ zone, shopping with street vendors selling a wide array of unique merchandise, food trucks, eating and shopping with long-time downtown merchants, and great entertainment and music, Texas Reds has something for everyone. So join us in beautiful historic Downtown Bryan Sept. 27-29 for a one-of-a-kind experience. Texas Reds — a taste of the good life — Texas Style!”
What Downtown Bryan Association says they consider its most anticipated festival of the year will kick off with a concert on Friday night on the Main Stage at 28th Street. On Saturday, the festival will welcome prize-seeking master grillers as part of the annual Steak Cook-Off. The festival fun continues throughout the day on Saturday with wine and beer tents opening at 11am, the kids’ zone, grape stomp, and live music.
Saturday night will feature the popular steak dinner served with all the fixings by J. Cody’s Steaks and Barbecue, as well as country music’s David Nail, who will headline the festival starting at 9pm. The 2010 Grammy nominee will perform on the KBTX Main Stage at the intersection of 28th and Main Streets in Historic Downtown Bryan. Opening for Nail at 7pm will be singer-songwriter Sunny Sweeney. Sunday brings the return of the Steak and Egg Brunch. The wine and beer tents will open up at 11am on Sunday as well.
Recently featured in Rolling Stone, David Nail is well-known for his unique mark on the modern country music scene. His 2018 album, Only This and Nothing More is celebrated for its “rule breaking arrangements” and its eclectic mix of rock and roll guitars, melodic keyboards, and toe-tapping drum beats. Known as the musical hybrid of a country crooner and an indie rock singer, Nail has appeared everywhere from The Today Show to the famed Nashville Country Music Festival. His many accomplishments include a Grammy Award nomination for Male Country Vocal Performance for his song “Turning Home,” plus Academy of Country Music Award nominations for Single Record of the Year (“Red Light”) and Vocal Event of the Year (“Let It Rain” with Sarah Buxton). Since 2002, ten of Nail’s singles have peaked on U.S. country charts, including his songs “Memphis,” “I’m About to Come Alive,” and “Turning Home,” plus top-10 hit “Red Light.”
Joining the Saturday night bill is Sunny Sweeney. The Texas born and bred soprano has four albums under her belt buckle, including Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame, Concrete, Provoked, and Trophy. In 2013, Sweeney received an Academy of Country Music Awards nomination for Top New Female Artist. In 2015, she made history as the first female artist with consecutive number one hits on the Texas charts. Early in her career, Sweeney performed as the opening act for Miranda Lambert and has been praised by Rolling Stone as “…one of the rare entertainers who can hold her own at CMA Fest as well as AmericanaFest.” Her songs “From A Table Away,” “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving,” and “Drinking Myself Single” have all earned her notches on the country charts.
New to the festival this year will be the Brazos Valley Band Showcase sponsored by Union Pacific. This will provide local bands with the opportunity to perform on the Main Stage and be featured in the biggest Downtown Bryan event of the year. Bands will perform on the Main Stage during the day on Saturday adding even more music for festivalgoers to enjoy.
Last year’s sold-out Unwind & Dine multi-course wine tasting dinner will return. The event is hosted on Saturday night at Madden’s Casual Gourmet (202 South Bryan Avenue). The dinner menu will be created by Chef Tai Lee with each course accompanied by a specially selected Texas wine. Seating is limited to this dinner so early purchase is encouraged.
Admission to the festival and the kids’ zone is free. Tasting packages must be purchased for wine tastings, beer tastings, the Saturday night steak dinner, the Sunday brunch, Unwind & Dine at Madden’s, and the steak cook-off sampling. Tasting packages are now on sale online with savings offers of up to 25 percent for early purchase. Tasting packages will also be available for purchase at the festival. For more information, including a festival schedule, visit www.TexasRedsFestival.com.
