New Releases

Impactful cover album Texas Wild expands with Zella Day, Texas Gentlemen

Zella Day, a recent transplant, earns her place in Texas with a cover of a track by the 13th Floor Elevators.

Photo courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF)

Texas artists are supporting their state parks with an expanded album covering iconic Texas songs. Texas Wild — Deluxe Edition follows up on the 2023 record, called one of the best albums of the year by Texas Monthly, by adding four new tracks. The deluxe album comes out Friday, August 8, and just like the original project, sales will benefit Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF).

New tracks by the Texas Gentlemen with Ruthie Foster, plus Zella Day performing solo, expand the limited-edition vinyl album, while Max Frost and Jonathan Terrell add fun on the digital version. Adding cohesion as artists cover different genres — including blues, cumbia, hip hop, R&B, and more — Austin artist Walker Lukens continues serving as the album's producer.

The original album, Texas Wild, featured 11 tracks including: Fat Tony and Paul Wall covering “(Hey Baby) Que Paso” by the Sir Douglas Quintet; Shakey Graves and Jess Williamson covering "True Love Will Find You In The End" by Daniel Johnston; Sir Woman and Ray Wylie Hubbard covering "Texas Sun" by Khruangbin and Leon Bridges; and Adrian Quesada and US and The Soul Supporters covering "Say My Name" by Destiny’s Child.

The expansion got a head start on August 1 with the release of a collaborative single: The Texas Gentleman (from Dallas) and Ruthie Foster (from Gause and based in Austin) covering "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison. The straightforward rock and roll song gets a heavily soul-tinted update with solicitous vocals and a smooth organ accompaniment.

"There's something beautiful about taking a classic and making it your own while honoring what came before," said Foster in a press release. "Supporting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation makes it even more meaningful — we're celebrating the music and the land that inspires it."

Also on the physical release, Zella Day (an enthusiastically welcomed Texas transplant as of 2023, based in Wimberley) takes on "You're Gonna Miss Me" by iconic Austin band the 13th Floor Elevators. A press release teases an "ethereal" interpretation, which similar to the single above, would dramatically change the frenetic tone of the original.

This subversion of expectations is what made the original album so exciting to Texans and fans enamored with music history. Rather than a novelty project offering up some dutiful homages, Texas Wild turned these songs on their head and presented the best of what Texas artists have to give today: real artistic interpretations.

On the digital album Max Frost, known for emotional pop in a range of styles, covers Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable"; and country artist Jonathan Terrell plays to his type, covering George Strait’s “All My Exes Live in Texas." (This song is perhaps too beloved to change too much.) Both performers are based in Austin.

"What made this project so special is that we brought together legends and newcomers, all united by their love for these classic Texas songs," said Walker Lukens. "There's an untamed creative spirit that you can only find in Texas music, and this album represents that."

Texas Wild – Deluxe Edition will be available on streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music on August 8. Only 1,500 vinyl copies will be released, pressed in recycled pink Bio-Vinyl, and accompanied by a 24-page companion booklet and four interchangeable covers by Texas illustrator Mishka Westell. Preorders ($34.99) are available online, followed by a local record store release on August 29, and later some Texas State Park stores.

Some live listening events are still to be announced, according to the press release.

The complete track listing for Texas Wild – Deluxe Edition is as follows:

Side A

1. Fat Tony featuring Paul Wall — "(Hey Baby) Que Paso" (Texas Tornados)

2. Ryan Bingham — "Possum Kingdom" (The Toadies)

3. Adrian Quesada featuring Uncle Roy & Spice and The Soul Supporters — "Say My Name" (Destiny's Child)

4. Shakey Graves featuring Jess Williamson — "True Love Will Find You In The End" (Daniel Johnston)

5. Sir Woman featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard — "Texas Sun" (Khruangbin and Leon Bridges)

6. The Texas Gentlemen — "That's Right (You're Not From Texas)" (Lyle Lovett)

Side B

7. Zella Day — "You're Gonna Miss Me" (The 13th Floor Elevators) (NEW)

8. The Suffers — “My Maria” (B.W. Stevenson)

9. LUNA LUNA — "Si Una Vez" (Selena Quintanilla)

10. Toadies — "Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson)

11. Sarah Jaffe — "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground" (Willie Nelson)

12. The Texas Gentleman and Ruthie Foster — "Pretty Woman" (Roy Orbison) (NEW)

13. Shane Smith and The Saints featuring Hayes Carll — "Pancho and Lefty" (Townes Van Zandt)

Digital Tracks:

14. Max Frost — “Irreplaceable” (Beyonce)

15. Jonathan Terrell — “All My Exes Live in Texas” (George Strait)

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Kicker

Christmas goes Celtic at Austin-area Renaissance fair grounds

Sherwood Forest Faire Yuletide Festival 2024

Photo courtesy of Sherwood Forest Faire

Participants at last year's inaugural Yuletide Festival.

This holiday season, the rolling woods of McDade will trade their usual medieval flair for something a little more jolly, and a lot more Celtic. The Sherwood Celtic Yuletide Festival will return December 12-14, transforming the grounds of the beloved Sherwood Forest Faire into a winter weekend of music, merriment, and holiday magic.

Just 35 miles east of Austin, Sherwood has long been a favorite getaway for Renaissance fans and families craving something immersive. But this special Yuletide event adds in a dash of holiday magic and the Scottish Highlands to the the already transportive atmosphere.

Guests can expect Highland Games like Scottish hammer swinging, shot put, and the legendary caber toss (a traditional Scottish game where competitors through giant tapered logs called "cabers" around), plus live falconry experiences and regular faire events like artisan shopping, archery, and live music.

To round it all out, Santa Claus will make a grand entrance by horse-drawn carriage, tossing candy to the crowd. He’ll also meet children with Mrs. Claus, while Sherwood photographers snap family portraits free of charge.

“It’s a really special event. We have about 80 artisans selling crafts, so it’s a really nice marketplace to buy Christmas presents," said Sherwood Forest Faire co-founder George Appling in a press release.

The lineup leans heavily into traditional Irish and Scottish music with one of the biggest draws being The Byrne Brothers, a high-energy Irish family band with a cult-like following. Killian's Angels, a Las Vegas-based Celtic band, will also take the stage with a blend of violin, tin whistle, guitar, and mandolin.

“The bands are amazing and are the kind of bands people in Texas won’t be able to see live anywhere else,” Appling added. And for those who want something seasonal to sip on while they listen, Sherwood has you covered.

“It's very rare to be able to go to a bar and buy warm, spiced Mead," said Appling, "but you can do that at this show.”

Sherwood Forest Faire launched its first Celtic music festival in 2011, but it was only decided last year to push it back from September to December and add in the "Yuletide" theme.

“For three years in a row, it was 103 degrees during the music festival, so it made sense to move it to December when it's cool, but not uncomfortable," Appling explained. "You can have your warm mead, you can wear your cloak if you want to. It's really nice."

Though it's only the second year, it's probably an easy adjustment for attendees: Crisp winter air, costumes, and a fairy-tale setting should make the whole place feel like a Celtic holiday village.

Tickets, including day passes, weekend passes, and camping, are available online starting at $12.50.

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