Your festival ticket is the ticket to our uniquely Austin music. Every seat in the Rose Garden is one of the best in the house and there is sure to be some unforgettable toe-tapping music to suit every taste.
Once again, Austin Area Garden Council is partnering with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department to present ongoing music and family entertainment in the Rose Garden. Come and bring friends to enjoy a weekend, afternoon or an hour of unforgettable entertainment to suit every taste.
Saturday, April 6
12 Noon
Dance by Carly
Dance by Carly provides a family-friendly atmosphere dedicated to the creative art of dance and performance while building self-confidence, poise and group respect. Come join south Austin's premiere dance company, specializing in ballet, tap, jazz, hip- hop, and creative movement. We also offer Mothers Morning Out, afterschool pick-up, adult classes and have a competitive dance troupe known as DBC Academy. DBC Academy is a troupe of children starting ages four through fifteen years old. Our performers in DBC Academy have performed in the Austin community such as Austin Trail of Lights, Trail of Lights in Buda ,The Groove in Southpark Meadows and compete at a Regional and National Dance Competition in the spring. If interested in joining dance classes or DBC Academy, contact Dance by Carly at 512.383.5714
1:30 pm
Juan Cabrera
Originally from the South American country of Paraguay, Juan Cabrera began studying the harp at the age of 4. His father, seeing his passion, relocated the family to New York City where he studied at The Juilliard School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. Throughout his career, he has toured and performed with various artists and prestigious venues such as: the White House, the Kennedy Center, and the Hollywood Bowl, to name a few.
In “Volver A Empezar” his latest recording, Juan Cabrera fuses folk sounds with New Age, contemporary Latin, R&B and Tropical rhythms. “Volver A Empezar” includes five original compositions by Juan Cabrera, one remix of the single, “Asuncion de Noche” and 1 cover, “Piano” a constant fan favorite always being requested at his concerts.
3:00 pm
Ken Brothers
Classic Country Singer & World Class Yodeler, Ken has been playing guitar and singing country music, for forty plus years all over Texas and the surrounding states. His distinctive approach to yodeling and singing has brought pleasure to audiences everywhere. One of the highlights of his musical career was winning the United States Yodeling Championship held in Kerrville, Texas back in 1977, Ken held the title through the following two contests in 78 and 79. Then in 1980, no one challenged him, so he was requested to retire from competition to rebuild participation in the contest. Ken is also a song writer and has recorded some of his own music. You can find Ken performing at country shows, weddings, festivals, corporate functions, ranch parties all over Texas. Ken is a family man, a vocalist, a world class yodeler, and an all around good guy!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
12 Noon
The Better Halves
The Better Halves perform a variety of fun music on a variety of instruments. Trained at both Berklee and GIT, Jimmy Joe has played guitar all over the US in several country bands, has had one of his songs featured on NPR’s Cartalk, and has been a Kerrville Newfolk Regional performer. He has been a musical establishment at the Barton Creek Farmers Market since its inception in Westlake over a decade ago, where his banjo has recently been making an appearance. Chrissie plays guitar, mandolin and ukulele. In October of 2012, she was featured live on A Prairie Home Companion with Avenue Elle, another of her many musical projects. Chrissie has received honorable mentions for her songwriting from the Austin Songwriters Group and the Woody Guthrie songwriting contest. Together, The Better Halves sing outstanding harmonies and play some rousing instrumental music. Their debut album, released in early 2012, gives a taste of this, and received recognition upon its release by the Texas Music Awards, as well as having songs place on the folk music charts throughout the world. Above all else, the duo is happiest playing songs that make their audience smile.
1:30 pm
Doc Grauzer
Thomas “Doc” Grauzer is a self-taught harper and storyteller of the Irish tradition, including in his repertoire a variety of stately airs, lively dance tunes, and amusing anecdotes about the tunes, and their history. There are elements of both the elegant harping tradition and the much more recent tradition of the pub session in his performance. He is a versatile performer, having played at a wide variety of Celtic and Renaissance Festivals, private parties and weddings, as well as numerous pubs and restaurants. From 1997 to earlier this year, he played a long-standing regular gig at Mother's Cafe and Garden in Austin until the recent fire at the restaurant.
3:00 pm
Kevin McKinney
Kevin McKinney has been playing original music in and around Austin since 1990 with the band Soulhat as well as a solo artist and a sideman to such acts as Fastball, Bruce Robison, Martin Zellar, K Phillips, Earthpig and Fire, A is Red, English Teeth, and Kelly Willis. Always writing and recording new material, he is planning a new solo release this summer and a new Soulhat LP this year. Whether it is acoustic or electric, it is always unique.
Marlene Nichols joins us on keyboards again year at the Violet Crown Garden Club Flower Show, in the garden center auditorium. She arrived in Austin a few years ago— from San Jose, California— and found her niche, playing for parties, weddings, and retirement homes. Marlene’s life has been filled with music: she was a pianist for Nordstrom’s, a piano teacher for 25 years, and sang with the San Jose Symphony for years. Marlene brings a unique and special ambience to any venue, as she plays Music with a Difference—the name of her business! Enjoy the keyboard talents of Marlene Nichols on Saturday and Sunday.
