If you haven’t heard us talk all about Old Settler’s, then where have you been?! A bluegrass/folk festival in the heart of Tilmon, Texas (just a little outside of Austin), Old Settler’s is personally one of my favorite music festivals and was recently named USA Today’s #5 out of the top-ten music festivals. I had the opportunity to attend the whole weekend from April 12-14 and enjoyed the camping, good food, and tons of incredible artists who graced the festival grounds. Read all about it here!
My favorite set, you may ask? Well that’s easy – Mandolin Orange.
An Americana/folk duo from North Carolina, Mandolin Orange consists of Andrew Marlin (vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo) and Emily Frantz (vocals, violin, guitar). An Old Settler’s veteran, Mandolin Orange delivered one of the most relaxing yet moving sets this year. I was so bummed to miss their performance two years ago but was grateful to finally catch them on the Bluebonnet Stage on a glorious Friday evening.
Marlin and Frantz have a humble, down-to-earth presence on stage. Though incredibly talented and quite possibly angels sent from heaven above, they both perform in a way that you would think they’re simply singing to friends, enjoying a typical evening doing what they love – creating music.
With the Texas sun setting behind the stage, the two performed nearly all their greatest hits (and some of my favorites) including the following:
- Calvary
- Hey Stranger
- Wildfire
- Waltz About Whiskey
- Old Ties and Companions
- Take This Heart of Gold
Marlins picks on his mandolin mesmerized the crowd while Frantz’s violin strings serenaded us into pure happiness. The two’s vocals harmonized and blended perfectly together, a coupling that you’d swear is ethereal. I truly couldn’t have imagined a better fit for my beloved Old Settler’s Music Festival, a festival that cherishes community, good vibes, and music at it’s purest.
Check back in later this week for more recaps and photos galleries from OSMF 2019, and be sure to check out our other music adventures here!
Leigh is a native Texan gone temporary New Yorker and now proud Austinite. Passions include but are not limited to music (both as a spectator and dabbler), traveling & cultural adventures, film & television, true crime, design (of the fashion, interior, and graphic sorts), and photographing & writing about all the aforementioned. Self-acclaimed coffee connoisseur & wino, cat aficionado, book worm, and nature junkie.
It was such a good show. First time to see them and they blew me away and left chills. Seeing an unplanned encore for a non headlining artist is such a rarity, too. You could tell the band was into it as much as the audience.