By Katie James
The Texas Arts and Music Festival, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a first-class event for art and music lovers, is coming back to Brenham Oct. 18 through 20. This free event will feature live music and Austin artist Helena Martin painting a mural over the course of the weekend.
“Festival attendees can watch as the wall is transformed throughout their time in downtown and while there, shop at the Art Village with a range of unique vendors and enjoy craft beer, food vendors, and music from our main stage,” says Brad Stufflebeam, board president of Texas Arts and Music Festival.
Martin has created vibrant murals all around the U.S. and abroad. Portraiture, flora, fauna, and a clever use of color are some of the signatures of her style. At the festival, attendees get to watch her work in real time throughout the weekend.
Since 2016, the annual festival has drawn art and music lovers alike and continues to grow and evolve to include more and different kinds of performers and more attractions for kids.
“We continue to grow and expand our festival with new offerings,” says Stufflebeam. “This year we have a great Latin variety band on Friday night and a soulful gospel band on Sunday so folks can come and stay all weekend in Brenham! We [will have] an area for kids to participate in street art and learn different techniques from [a] muralist.”
The festival boasts a variety of musicians including headliner Jody Booth and the East Texas Ramblers, Chandler and the Bings, Jomo and the Possum Posse, Sour Bridges, The Blue Grooves, Brown Sugar Band, Brenham Children’s Chorus, and Shekere Band.
“We will have music on our main stage Friday night, Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday afternoon,” says Stufflebeam. “We have an eclectic mix scheduled including our children’s chorus, blues, funk, rock, Latin, and of course, Texas Country.”
The event is family friendly and absolutely free, thanks to the help of sponsors, but there will be buckets set up accepting donations. Donations help fund not only the event, but local art programs as well. Another way to support is by purchasing VIP tickets. VIP guests will have the chance to mingle with the bands and street artists on Saturday.
“The inspiration behind hosting this festival was to create a space for public artwork on the walls of Brenham’s downtown historic downtown buildings and highlight music acts from around the state,” says Stufflebeam.
In addition to the live mural painting and musical performances, visitors can look forward to a dance party on Friday night and plenty of opportunity to shop in the Art Village, featuring vendors and food trucks, Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10am to 8pm and Sunday, Oct. 20, from 11am to 3pm.
“This is a unique event, bringing small town charm and neighborly hospitality to life,” says Stufflebeam. “It has everything someone would expect from visiting a small Texas town with the high-quality street art that one would expect from a big city. It’s amazing to see the impact that art can make in our community and lives.”
For a preview of Martin’s work, visit www.helenamartinart.com. For the most recent festival information and schedule, visit www.texasartsandmusicfestival.com.
