Don't look now, but Huntsville is becoming a live music mecca

There was a time when musicians stopped in Huntsville when traveling from Houston to Dallas. Whether it was Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash playing at the Texas Prison Rodeo or early-career George Strait playing local honky-tonks, live music was alive and well.

Some of these classic local venues, like Guaranteed Wholesome from the 1970s and 1980s or the original Stardust from the early 2000s, have since closed. But over the last seven years, the not-for-profit and government sectors have stepped up in their place, breathing new life into our public spaces in the process.

As a result, you can hear live music of almost every genre throughout the year right here in town – often, free of charge. Where are these shows and who puts them on?

The new kid on the block

The newest kid in town is Sundown at Sam’s, a free live music series held at the outdoor stage on the Sam Houston Museum grounds near the Steamboat House.

These grounds burst to life for three Thursday evenings each spring. Come out with a chair or blanket and meet up with old friends, or make new ones on a blanket nearby. There are local food and beverage vendors if you don’t want to bring your own picnic. Two artists perform each evening, each from within an hour of Huntsville.

Music Director Darren Grant worked with the Museum to create the event four years ago. He was "motivated to support live music and local musicians in Huntsville. The museum liked that and also saw it as a good way to reach out to the local community. It was a win-win," he said.

Sundown not only gives local musicians some stage time close to home, but also exposes the audience to a variety of music, with each night focusing on a different genre. Grant shares, "My main dream going in was for our audience to come to love and appreciate different styles of music: blues, bluegrass, country, Americana, gospel. We've come a long way towards that goal."

Local musician John Toland has served as sound engineer for most of the past four seasons. He says, “It’s been an awesome experience watching it grow from just an idea we discussed in Darren’s living room to each year seeing the crowd grow bigger and bigger.” An average night will have one hundred attendees.

A typical night's cost is in the low four-digits, with funding coming from donations and from the museum. The performers Grant books are always well-received – the major barrier to growth is getting the word out. ”In today's media environment, everyone is on a different platform," he reflects. "It's just so hard.”

Toland agrees. “I’d just like to see the word get out more so Huntsville knows there’s a great place to see great, live, local music for free.”

Your tax dollars at work

Just after Sundown winds down in the spring, another free outdoor music series gears up for the summer. It is the middle child, bumping around in various formats for several years before settling into its groove in 2023.

This series, the City of Huntsville's Main Street Music Series, is held at Rather Park on the second Saturday of each month from May to August.  It is the baby of Amanda Sewell, Main Street Manager for the past two years. She states, “By offering free live music... downtown, we’re supporting our local businesses while providing meaningful experiences for residents and visitors alike.”

Sewell, with a committee of 6-8 people from the Main Street Advisory Board, sifts through a list of regional performers in January to select that summer’s four bands. Contracts are signed for $500-$2,500, depending on the travel distance, production logistics, and the band's experience and following. Main Street’s fluctuating yearly budget dictates those payouts and proves to be the event’s biggest hurdle.

Some nights you’ll find a local songwriter and their acoustic guitar, while other nights have a six-piece band with their own opener, sound, and lights. Either way, it’s a beautiful night of music under the stars.  

There are no food and beverage vendors, so bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, or come early and partake in Ship 'n Shop on the square, hosted by the Downtown Business Alliance. It's a good idea to bring a chair.

Historically entertaining

The elder statesman of the group is the Old Town Theatre, opened originally as a movie house in 1947 (and reprising that role each February in the Prison City Film Festival).

A live theater venue for many years, its board decided to transition into live music in 2019. Since then, more and more people who had never been inside have found their way into the historic building.

Lois Stehlik has booked the musicians for all seven years. She has a lot more money to work with but also a tight constraint – these shows have to pay for themselves. Tribute bands are booked for $2,000-$7,000, while established legacy acts range from $10,000-$26,000, with comedians, magicians, and others costing upwards of $12,000. When booking, Stehlik relies on audience recommendations and past performers who did well.

While Sundown has a lot of bluegrass, blues, and gospel and Main Street features more rock 'n roll, the Theatre's sweet spot is country music, with newcomers and familiar names appearing throughout the year.

There is something special about being in an elegant old venue, but maintaining it isn't cheap. The board plans to raise $100,000 to replace their faded curtain, originally from Mance Park Middle School, and another $100,000 to expand the concession stand and renovate the bathrooms in the lobby and upstairs.

These costs, performers' fees, and other overhead adds up. So if you ever think the ticket price is too high, remember that it’s covering more than just the songs.

Stehlik and the theater board use their non-profit status to garner donations that help ”keep costs down [to] offer quality entertainment at an affordable rate,” Stehlik shares. Depending on the act, general admission tickets range from $30-$60 while VIP seats go for $50-$85.

Making a space a place

Through the efforts of city government, non-profits, some businesses, and passionate citizens, live music is increasingly finding its way to Huntsvegas.

These performances let local musicians grow their artistry and fan base, make a healthier community, and provide moments of fellowship over common interests. In bringing us together to experience the magic of live music, they turn spaces into places, breathing life into our town.

Sundown at Sam's takes place on three Thursday evenings over a six week span each spring. The lineup is announced in February on the Sam Houston Museum's website and Facebook page; there are Facebook events as well. In the event of rain, the performance moves inside to a nice auditorium in the Walker Education Center, right there by the Steamboat House on 19th St.

The Main Street Music Series takes place on the 2nd Saturday evening of May, June, July, and August, right after Sip 'n Shop closes on the square. Each summer's lineup is announced in the spring on Facebook, and there are Facebook events you can use to remind yourself and invite others. In the event of rain, the performance moves inside to the Old Town Theatre.

The Old Town Theatre has numerous concerts throughout the year. See the list and buy tickets here. There isn't just country, but also comedy, gospel, and some rock 'n roll – click that link and take a look.

To submit yourself or your band to the database that Main Street Music Series, the Downtown Business Alliance, and Fair on the Square use for their booking needs, contact Main Street Manager Amanda Sewell at asewell@huntsvilletx.gov. To submit recommendations for performers of any type to Old Town Theatre, go to their Facebook page or drop a note in the suggestion box at the theater.