Country rock artist Wade Bowen’s 21st annual Bowen MusicFest was held in Waco, Texas, at McLane Stadium’s Touchdown Alley on Sunday, June 2. Hosted by the Bowen Family Foundation, this festival brings in over $3.25 million for charities supporting families and children in and around Waco.
(If you’ve been following our music happenings, Wade Bowen will likely sound familiar! Read all about his performance at last year’s Old Settler’s Music Festival here.)
I had the opportunity to drive up to Waco and visit my alma mater (Go Bears!) for an afternoon full of sunshine, brews and good music. A jam-packed lineup, Bowen MusicFest showcased musicians near and far, up-and-coming to classic. Full band performances throughout the day included Josh Weathers, Joshua Ray Walker & Shea Abshier, Shane Smith & The Saints, Juliet McConkey & Chris Colston, Tracy Byrd, Whiskey Myers, Cheap Trick and Courtney Patton & Ben Danaher.
Though I wasn’t able to stay for the duration of the day, the full performances were followed by a Bowen & Friends Jam, including Stoney LaRue, Cody Canada, Jamey Johnson, Brent Cobb, Paul Thorn (who also performed at Old Settler’s Music Festival 2019!), William Clark Green, Sundance Head, Kevin Fowler, Randy Rogers and Jamie Lin Wilson.
Despite the rising temps (it’s officially summertime in Texas, y’all), I cooled off in the fantastic VIP lounge setup directly next to the stage which not only provided refreshing drinks, but also offered a catered dinner by Fiesta, the perfect pick-me-up after jamming out in the heat.
Though pictures weren’t allowed, Cheap Trick was hands down my personal highlight of the day. Hearing “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender” had me reeling, moments I’ll forever remember. Also, can we just acknowledge that those dudes are still kickin’ it after over 40 years?!
For more information on Bowen MusicFest and The Bowen Family Foundation visit https://www.bowenfamilyfoundation.org/bowen-musicfest/, and be sure to follow our other music shenanigans around Austin here!
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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.