Viva Big Bend celebrates 5 years with Los Lonely Boys, Little Joe

By Sarah. M Vasquez

of The Big Bend Sentinal

FAR WEST TEXAS – Texican rock band Los Lonely Boys and the King of the Brown Sound, Little Joe y la Familia, are two of the headliners for the Viva Big Bend music festival. This is the fifth year the weekend-long music event brings over 40 bands to the tri-county area from July 28 through 31.

The Garza brothers behind Los Lonely Boys are originally from West Texas, San Angelo more specifically, but are making their debut at Viva Big Bend on Saturday, July 30, at the Granada Theater in Alpine.

Grammy-winning Little Joe has played in Far West Texas many times. The most recent was on a rainy night in August 2014 at Vizcaino Park in Marfa. He will perform this time on Friday, July 29 at Granada Theater.

Also on the lineup is country music singer Gary P. Nunn, the duo Dawn and Hawkes and rock band Quaker City Night Hawks from Fort Worth, along with returning Soul Track Mind, The Peterson Brothers, Doug Moreland and Matt the Electrician. Local acts include the Blan Scott Band, Los Pinche Gringos and The Doodlin’ Hogwallops.

Viva Big Bend Producer Stewart Ramser said there will be 21 shows between the three bars in Marfa. The defunct Padre’s Marfa bar will reopen during the festival, providing four nights of music. The venue closed its doors at the beginning of the year with the owners ready to move on.

Thursday night will bring two side projects from some familiar names to the Padre’s stage. Night Glitter features LouLou Ghelichkhani of the electronic duo Thievery Corporation and John Michael Schoeph of the Happen-Ins from Austin. Black Joe Lewis is normally known for his blues and soul band with the Honeybears, but Lewis will show his rocking side with The Joe Jacksons.

There will be an El Paso night on Friday at Padre’s with Dusty Low, Frontera Bugalu and Chuco Soul Project.

Other bands playing in Marfa include The Statesboro Revue, Tessy Lou & the Shotgun Stars, Ben Ballinger and Los Coast.

Browning Beverage Company will make its official debut on Saturday, July 30, with a street party at its headquarters on San Antonio Street next to Bizarro Bikes and Big Bend Coffee Roasters.

Wristbands for Viva Big Bend are available for purchase at vivabigbend.com. Tri-county residents can purchase discounted tickets at their local Porter’s grocery store.

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