Viva Big Bend - Live Music Festival

Today is the kick-off for Viva Big Bend, the music festival featuring 70 performances in Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis, and Marathon. 

Marfa Public Radio DJs will be introducing some of the acts, and over the next few days, you can podcast interviews with several of the musicians from our Talk At Ten page. 

KRTS visited with festival organizer Stewart Ramser and Alpine favorite Rick Ruiz. Listen live to hear interviews with Emily Bell, David Lowrey (Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven), The Blue Bonnets, Mike and the Moonpies, Doodlin' Hogwallops, Graham Wilkinson, and more. Colin Gilmore also returns to town (and we have a few posters left from his June show).

Johnny Varro at the keys

Live music doesn't end this weekend. Join us on Tuesday night (July 30) for a free jazz concert in Alpine. Piano virtuoso Johnny Varro will bring his swing-style jazz to an evening concert held at St. James Episcopal Church in Alpine. That's at 510 N. 6th Street, near the elementary school. The free show begins at 7 PM.

Varro has played with Bobby Hackett and Eddie Condon, and even played on the Jackie Gleason show. He comes to the Big Bend as a guest of the West Texas Jazz Society, which has partnered with our sister station in the Permian Basin, KXWT 91.3 FM.