Austin may have bragging rights to both the South By Southwest Music & Media Conference and the nationally acclaimed Austin City Limits Music Festival, but for fans of camping, chili and Texas country music, the only festival that really matters is Larry Joe Taylor’s five-night/four-day throwdown in Stephenville. Taylor, the foremost purveyor of Texas beach music, has hosted his wildly popular Texas Music Festival and Chili Cook-Off for 20 years now, and the secret to the event’s success is simple: He’s a crowd pleaser. You may not find the hippest or most critically hyped Next Big Thing as anointed by Spin or National Public Radio at Taylor’s party, but you’ll always find a generous helping of the hottest acts from the regional Texas and Red Dirt music scenes. In addition to Taylor himself, this year’s lineup includes the rowdy young likes of Cross Canadian Ragweed, the Randy Rogers Band, Stoney LaRue and Wade Bowen, equally feisty Texas legends Ray Wylie Hubbard, Tommy Alverson and Rusty Wier, and even an intimate acoustic stage for singer-songwriters like Terri Hendrix, Adam Carroll, Walt Wilkins and Susan Gibson. Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival and Chili Cook-Off. Melody Mountain Ranch, Stephenville. April 22-26. Ticket packages range from $23 to $59. Camping available. For more information, visit www.larryjoetaylor.com or call 254-968-8505.
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