Lone Star Swing Syndicate kicks off 2011 Mother's Day at the TCMF.

AUSTIN —  In Sunday night’s closing set, Maestro Robert Laguna of the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble reminded the crowd that a concert band that didn’t play a march, didn’t love their mothers.  Sunday, ACWE kicked off with a Sousa march to honor all the Mothers, and capped off a great Mother’s Day of music at Central Market.

The program opened with the Lone Star Swing Syndicate playing, what else, but swing music.  Next was an hour of classical music – including an original composition – by the Hill Country Winds woodwind octet.

Bobby Davis and the Austin Jazz Band performed next, followed by NAJO, which featured a sweet father-daughter vocal duet, along with some hot jazz.

And ACWE closed the show, just as it had opened TCMF a week before.

The Sixth Annual TCMF continues Monday and Tuesday at Central Market North and concludes Wednesday at the Farmer’s Market at the Park at The Triangle.  Check the Schedule page for more information.

Rhythm Congress makes its fifth TCMF appearance and an appreciative audience GETS DOWN WITH THE GET DOWN!

AUSTIN — The second week of the Texas Community Music Festival kicked off Saturday with a blaze of jazz licks, crooners, R&B fun, banjos, clarinets and African drumming as the Sixth Annual TCMF drew what could be its largest single day crowd ever at Central Market.

The day kicked off with a set by the Trilogy Clarinet trio of Marble Falls and continued with a return engagement by the Austin Banjo Club.  The energy on the Patio at the Cafe just continued building from there, as all three ACC jazz programs were featured, as well as longtime crowd favorites Rhythm Congress and Republic of Texas Big Band, two TCMF veterans.

By the time Saturday’s headliners, the Djembabes, took the stage, there was little room to sit, as an enormous crowd enjoyed the spirited, soulful Western African drumming, chanting and dancing by the talented group.  Check out our Video page for excerpts from every day of this year’s TCMF. And don’t forget to view the large collection of photos.

The Texas Community Music Festival resumes at 3:00 pm Sunday, after a special Mother’s Day event at Central Market.  Check the Schedule page for more details, and join us for another fabulous day of music.

Austin Brass Band performs Wednesday at the Park at the Triangle

AUSTIN — The second big week of the Sixth Annual Texas Community Music Festival kicks off at 10:15 Saturday morning at Central Market North with the Hill Country Clarinet Trio of Marble Falls — the first of what promises to be yet another day of great performances on the Patio.

Wednesday, TCMF made its inaugural appearance at the Farmer’s Market at the Park at the Triangle, with performances by the New Austin Polka Band (yes, there was MORE Chicken Dancing!) and the Austin Brass Band.

Check the Schedule page for our second week of music and make plans to join us.  It’s going to be the swingingest week of music yet!

Ky Hote and Celtic Stronghold perform Tuesday at TCMF

AUSTIN — The Texas Community Music Festival was blessed again with beautiful, cool and sunny weather Tuesday evening at Central Market North, with contrasting sounds and consistently great entertainment.

Ky Hote and the Celtic Stronghold led off and delighted the crowd, which demanded encores, with a mix of what they described as “Texas Celtic” music.  Included in the ensemble was a performance on the rare hammer dulcimer, a first for TCMF.

The evening continued with the first Austin performance of the new Austin Swing Orchestra, who had the audience jumping all the way to closing time.

Tonight, TCMF moves to The Park at The Triangle for performances by the New Austin Polka Band and Austin Brass Band.  The show returns to Central Market Saturday morning.  Check the schedule page for details.