Arts & Entertainment
Lineup Set For River Revival Music Fest On Austin's Outskirts
Now in its fourth year, unique gathering takes place on the banks of the Guadalupe River, with campgrounds and meal service provided.

AUSTIN, TX — The lineup for the upcoming Splice Records River Revival Music Fest has been announced, with a dizzying array of Austin, Houston and New Orleans musicians.
Now in its fourth year, the music festival distinguishes itself not only by its musical offerings but its venue amid bucolic Texas landscape along the Guadalupe River. In collaboration with St. Arnold's Brewery, the music festival is scheduled to take place from Sept. 27-30.
Among the showcased musical acts: The Suffers; Bonerama; Jackie Venson; Rosie Ledet and Zydeco the Playboys; Tomar & the FCs; Full Service; John Evans; Buxton; Folk Family Revival; Hector Ward & the Bigtime; Maggie Belle Band; Arthur Yoria; Bayou City Funk; Flower Graves; Tightn' Up; Swimwear Department; and kids entertainer Andyroo and the Andyrooniverse.
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Organizers also promise "awesome late-night fireside performances" featuring live unplugged music from Vodi, Ancient Cat Society, Pecos Hank, Craig Kinsey, Dem and Tightn' Up. Listen to a special, curated playlist on Spotify of this year’s artists here.
All-inclusive tickets are priced at $265 for a three-day pass, $195 for a two-day pass and $100 for a one-day pass and can be purchased here. Those not among the Splice Records River Revival Music Fest cognoscenti not envisioning the natural interplay between music and lazing along the mighty Guadalupe River can catch a glimpse below:
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The music festival takes place at the KL Ranch Camp “On the River” and “Cliffside” campgrounds in quaint and tranquil town of New Braunfels, just over 32 miles northeast of San Antonio and nearly 50 miles south of Austin. Organizers describe their musical undertaking with its four components of "camping, nature, floating and fun."
The natural and communal setting of the River Revival Music Fest lend themselves to inspiring tangential outdoor activities not normally associated with music concerts: Intimate campfire concerts; hiking; river floating; canoeing; various workshops; morning yoga sessions; kids' music class activities; a hula-hooping workshop; natural live art exhibits by Journey Through; fire dancing; River Revival giveaways and prizes; and much more.
And unlike other large-scale music festivals, this one is family-friendly. "Whether you camp every weekend or you have never slept in a tent before, River Revival offers a bright light departure with carefully curated artists to enhance everyone’s experience," organizers wrote in a press advisory. "The design of the festival was created with adults in mind, though children under 10 are free and welcome to attend. Families with children will be assigned a campsite in the family area or across the street at the quieter K&L Camp Cliffside."
Splice founder/owner Shaun Brennan described the unique vantage points yielded by the waterfront venue: “They all perform on a stage we built 25-35 feet from the Guadalupe River. One could actuallywatch all the musicians perform from their tube in the Guadalupe river. Does it get any more Texasthan that?”
More information can be found here: www.splicerecordstx.com/events/river-revival.
"Assembling a festival’s musical lineup is not unlike pairing wine with dinner," Breenan added. "And in the case of River Revival this year, we've complemented nature with music”
Speaking of things culinary, Splice Records officials revealed the addition of a food program presented by Houston-based chef Adam Dorris (Presidio, Pax Americana), who will bring his cooking expertise to the campgrounds in providing breakfast, lunch and late-night snacks to festival-goers with the purchase of their all-inclusive admission tickets.
"Having Adam Dorris, his team and his food trucks handling over 3,000-plus meals served is no simple feat,” Brennan observed. “It is a task he is excited about leading and we are honored to have him. I am always excited to see the people and listen to the bands but this year there will be a cooking display put on like none other seen before on the River Revival ‘Lawn.’ The Food program at River Revival is unique in comparison to other Texas festivals in the fact that all the meals are included in the ticket price and communal."

Chef Adam Dorris, courtesy photo
Added Brennan: "We wanted our festival to stand out by replicating camping trips I took as a kid, when coolers were open to everyone and the meals were made, served and ate together as one big happy family.”
This year's River Revival sponsors and vendors including: Saint Arnold Brewery; Deep Eddy Vodka; Bloody Revolution; Kind Bars; Presidio Houston; Sprouts Farmers Market; Kickin Kombucha; Cottonwood Bar; FIX Coffee; Boomtown Coffee; Zanavara; BeanField; and others.
What began as something of a well-kept secret has now turned into a music festival of wide renown in a scant four years, Brennan suggested. That growth can be seen in the array of musicians lined up to play at the waterfront gig.
“The fourth year of River Revival is shaping up to be the most interesting, dynamic and fun-filled edition of this formerly secret festival that has now blossomed into a nice boutique micro-fest,” Brennan said. “Having Houston’s own ‘The Suffers’ be the headliners is something we have wanted to do from day one. They are dear friends and their new album is something we’ve been listening to since it was released. We feel it will compliment the scenery perfectly. Knowing they will be the last band to play the mainstage for 2018 is sort of a dream come true for us!”

Among the array of scheduled River Revival Weekend Activities are:
● LIVE MUSIC.
● MAIN STAGE—Every evening Thursday – Saturday until midnight.
● LATE NIGHT FIRESIDE “unplugged” acoustic sets 12:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
● FOR THE ACTIVE: Hiking, tubing, canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, rope swings
and fishing.
● WORKSHOPS: Nature walk with Pecos Hank.
● YOGA: “Darkside of the Moon” Morning Yoga Sessions from Hi-Lo Kick Studio with Christi
Workman.
● KIDS ACTIVITIES: Interactive Kids music performance by AndyRoo and the Andyrooniverse on
Saturday morning.
● ART: featuring newly designed campgrounds with natural live art exhibits by Journey Through and art installations and projections by Alex Ramos, Black Cassidy, Gelson and Billy Baccam.
● GROUP FLOAT provided by an outside outfitter at an extra cost. Tube rental, pickup
and drop off are included with an additional price and the float ends at the main stage and then
the show begins.
● FLOAT PARADE: A fun new addition to 2018’s River Revival, on Saturday organizers host a float
competition and parade down the river. There will be live judging and prizes for the most creative
float.
● RIVER REVIVAL RADIO: Live radio broadcast from the campgrounds hosted by comedian,
DJ, and River Revival master of ceremonies Mills-McCoin – Commodore of Blue Heron Yacht
Club. Music mixed with live sets, guest appearances and campground interviews.
● Most Creative Campsite Award - Tents, Campers and Campsite Creativity is Encouraged.
As an added bonus, the festival will bestow its King & Queen Campers Awards to the most enthusiastic Revivalist on the campgrounds. The awards come in various categories:
● Should’ve Been at Woodstock Award - the Most down to earth hippy soul.
● Most Creative Float in the Saturday Float Parade.
● Most Creative Style Award.
“River Revival has grown at a very nice pace, and every year the event seems to get better than the
last,” Brennan said. “We have a strong feeling this year’s event will be no exception. The music and
the river have always treated us well. The campgrounds slowly melt together and form a spiritual oasis
for three days. This year is unique to past Revivals because the Art and Food Programs will be equally
fascinating to the live music.”
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>>> Images courtesy of Splice Records River Revival Music Fest
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