Grand Stafford Theater

Trout Fishing in America benefiting Voices for Children
2015-04-11 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago)
Trout Fishing in America
Trout Fishing in America is the long-standing and yet seemingly unlikely musical partnership of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet. As individuals, they are about as different as one can imagine. Together, they blend seamlessly in a way that has captured the imagination (and hearts) of audiences of all ages for over three decades. Ezra on guitar and banjo stands 6’8″ tall while Keith on bass stretches to 5’5 1/2″ on a humid day. Ezra is more playful and extroverted while Keith is more serious and reserved. Each of them bring out the best in the other and the joy that comes from this musical interaction is contagious and impossible to deny.
The duo has earned four Grammy Nominations and recently released “Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers”. Try saying that five times fast! The CD features tongue twisters, mind-benders, spooky situations and instantly identifiable slices of a kid’s life. In September 2010, they changed gears and released a folk/pop CD called “Lookin’ at Lucky”, the first full length CD for adults in 11 years. Included in their catalog is a children’s book/CD “Chicken Joe Forgets Something Important” published through Secret Mountain. The spoken-word tale is followed by 11 original songs relating to the story. Real people and animals in Keith and Ezra’s lives inspired the characters in the songs.

Family Concert - Trout Fishing in America at Bryan Civic Auditorium benefiting Voices for Children
2015-04-11 11:00 - 17:00 | Bryan Civic Auditorium, 800 South Coulter Drive, Bryan, TX, 77803, United States
Trout Fishing in America is the longstanding musical partnership of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet. A willingness to at once make fun of our most annoying daily habits, then to touch our hearts with tender and passionate images of family life, is what makes the connection between Trout Fishing in America and its audiences so compelling and poignant. These four-time GRAMMY nominated artists have been called “…the Lennon and McCartney of kids’ music.” – National Public Radio
This is music for people who take their fun seriously. Four-time Grammy award nominees, Trout Fishing in America has been performing music for 3 decades that get kids and adults alike singing and bouncing along. In addition, they also delight children with their arresting physical appearance: Ezra Idlet stands at a whopping 6’8″ tall, and Keith Grimwood remains roughly 14 inches shorter than his bandmate. With songs like My Hair Had a Party Last Night and When I Was a Dinosaur, Grimwood and Idlet are “the Lennon and McCartney of kids music” – Kathy O’Connell, NPR.

Friendly Savages with Taylor & The Wild Now and Duncan Fellows
2015-04-10 20:00 - 23:00
Friendly Savages

SAVING THE WORLD, ONE ASTEROID AT A TIME…
In the two years it has been together, Friendly Savages has established itself as a band to know throughout the Southeast with its powerful, genre-defying sound. Heralded as “one of the best groups working in Austin today” (The Horn), the group serves a double helping of passion and levity in their can’t-miss concerts. Friendly Savages is making big noise with the studio, as well. Their full-length debut, O, Joshua!, found immediate success, climbing to #3 on the iTunes singer songwriter charts and quickly seeing over 100,000 streams on Spotify.
The group is made up of Josh Coulter, John McDonald, Michael Summers and Malcolm White. With each member coming from a distinctly unique musical background, Friendly Savages’ music breaks the mold of typical folk, stretching into rock, blues, and classical music. Concert goers are hard pressed to find an equal to the energy, joy, and musicality of a Friendly Savages show anywhere else. As Back Down South put it, “they’re a band you just need to be listening to, ok?”
Taylor & the wild now

Taylor & the Wild Now is an Austin, Texas-based band with a fresh sound that’s creative and ever-changing. The band was formed by Taylor Baker, who originally played as a solo act and occasionally collaborated with various musicians. Drew Walker then joined in the summer of 2013. They began writing together, sharing ideas, and turning the venture into a more solidified sound. Ruben Gonzalez and Jon Amos came on board and rounded out the sound by adding drums and bass.
The band is driven by an approach to songwriting that is impressive, surprising, and unique. Influenced by artists such as Bahamas, Glass Animals, and Lord Huron; their music spans the spectrum from wild, upbeat sounds to stripped-back acoustics. Their first EP was released in August 2014, and their new single is due to be released soon.
Duncan Fellows

Duncan Fellows began in a commune of sorts on Duncan Lane in the fall of 2012. After a few terrible experiences with an oppressive landlord, these five friends began writing songs about their time in the Duncan house. The group enjoys playing these songs together and still lives in Austin, Texas in hopes of bringing good music and a good time to a greater audience.

Reserved for a Private Event
2015-04-09 08:00 - 23:00
We will be closed to the public because of a private event.

The Connection with music from Buffalo Ruckus
2015-04-07 17:00 - 22:00
THE CONNECTION
Uniting Healthcare Professionals for a Cause
RSVP: theconnectionbcs@gmail.com

Free First Friday Concert feat. Roxy Roca and Driver Friendly | Premium Passes Avail.
2015-04-03 20:00 - 23:55
Defacto Productions & Grand Stafford Theater present Free First Friday Concert Series feat. Roxy Roca!
ROXY ROCA

“I’m on a mission from God,” Taye Cannon deadpanned before breaking into laughter. “Well, maybe not exactly, but it kinda felt that way at first, and it still does sometimes.”
Ok, so the Blues Brothers reference is a little cringe-worthy, but it’s an apt description for the path Cannon traveled assembling Austin-based ROXY ROCA, although the Blues Brothers story starts off in jail, and Taye’s starts in, well, Alabama. Close enough.
“I grew up in the deep south immersed in my dad’s music — Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, James Brown. Basically, if it had a groove, my dad had it. When Motown 25 hit the TV it was all over — I knew this was what I wanted to do. I remember staying up all night with my cousins, emulating James Brown and Michael Jackson in our grandfather’s carport.”
Things didn’t work out the way he expected, at least not right away. Teenage years, rebellion, and punk rock created a detour for the fledgling belter. “I couldn’t really sing yet, but I made up for it with volume and conviction.” Cannon took what he learned about showmanship from James Brown and combined it with his raw aggression and parlayed it into a successful run fronting Austin darkwave pioneers Mocktigers. The thrill of performing was just what he imagined it would be, but something was missing.
“I started telling people I wanted to be a soul singer and I got a lot of sideway looks, like, ‘Really? Where is this coming from?’ They all knew me as the crazy frontman from Mocktigers that screams himself hoarse night after night. They didn’t know this other side of me. So, things kind of stalled for a while.”
Then, a chance meeting changed everything. “I said, ‘Hey, do you want to start a soul band with me?’ and he said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’” Cannon is talking about veteran Austin guitar slinger Errol Siegel. “I thought, ‘Man, that was easy, who’s next? Well, Errol and I both knew Roger (Wuthrich) from previous bands and it turned out he was into it too — he just said, ‘Anything you want to do, I’m in.’ I knew these guys were great players, so I had no doubt they could do it. For whatever reason, they saw something that made them think I could too. So, we were on our way.”
One by one they recruited players for their “mission.” Bob Villwock on keys, just in from CA. Tom Hays on trombone. Paul Kresowik, former drummer for globetrotting soul/funk outfit Diplomats of Solid Sound. Houston Rawls, former tenor saxman for T Bird and The Breaks. Most recently, the band welcomed Royce Phillips Jr. on alto sax. “We just started connecting the dots, figuring out who we knew that had a passion for soul music, the chops to play it right, and the desire to be poor,” explains Siegel. “We knew this was going to be a labor of love, which is really just another way of saying, ‘You better love this, because we sure as hell can’t pay you.’”
After a year of recruiting, woodshedding, and writing, ROXY ROCA made their debut at an ACL Festival after-party. The wait was worth it. The band exploded out of the gate firing on all cylinders. “We felt like we had one chance to prove ourselves so we knew we had to leave it all on the stage that night.”
Since that night, the buzz has spread quickly, leading to more high-profile shows with B.B. King, Fitz and The Tantrums, Mayer Hawthorne, Orgone, Honey Island Swamp Band, Brownout, The Monophonics, Maneja Beto, T-Bird and The Breaks, and others. The band was an official showcasing artist at SXSW 2012 and 2013. This year’s showcase at Lustre Pearl, called the “Best of SXSW 2013″ by NYC-based BlackBook Magazine, was a major funk/soul event with sets from ROXY ROCA, Ruby Velle and The Soulphonics, The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, The Diplomats of Solid Sound, and more.
The band continues to hone their chops and develop their sound. They recently wrapped up production on their new record, recorded at EAR Studio in Austin with producer Lars Goransson at the helm and are looking forward to its release later this summer.
So, what’s on the horizon for ROXY ROCA? Cannon doesn’t even blink. “Straight to the top. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t really believe I could. I told you man, I’m on a mission from God.”
Roxy Roca on Facebook | Roxy Roca on Twitter | Official Website

Driver FRiendly

When Driver Friendly first met in high school in North Houston, Texas their friendship quickly turned from hanging out after school to writing songs in a garage and playing shows around their hometown. As the band gained momentum and a loyal fan base around the area, they took a huge step and moved to Austin, TX- the live music capital of the world- to continue pursuing their dream.
Composed of lead vocalist Tyler Welsh, guitarist and vocalist Andy Lane, guitarist Nathan Parrish, bass guitarist Chris Walker, drummer Jeremi Mattern, trumpet player Juan Lopez & trombone player Andy Rector, Driver Friendly is ready to share their melodic, high energy songs with the world! The band’s fast paced anthems “Ghosts” and “Messidona” are just a small taste of what’s to come.
They are no amateurs when it comes to music videos, either. The video for “Messidona” is a 3 minute and 30 second cinematic tribute to the legendary Tom Hanks, who caught wind of the video and even shared his excitement of the band and video with his twitter followers!
Driver Friendly is a band with determination & huge dreams that plan on making music for a long time- growing not only as friends, but also as musicians. Their journey is just beginning and it already looks like it’s going to be an amazing trip.

Modest House Showcase 2
2015-04-02 20:00 - 23:00
Daniel Thomas Phipps and the Kinfolk

Longtime sideman Daniel Thomas Phipps has paid his dues. He’s traveled the country playing guitar and bass for acts such as Little Brave, K Phillips & the Concho Pearls, Ali Holder, and Javi Garcia, and has now completed his debut album, “An Offering”, released in 2014.
Recorded at Ramble Creek in North Austin, “An Offering” introduces and enchants listeners to Daniel’s multi-faceted musical array. Phipps blends crafty, creative wordplay with an inherent ability to write a tune with staying power, all the while topping it off with a voice that is versatile, bouncing from haunting vocal soul to raw heart.
Aaron Stephens

In the vast landscape of Texas music, no one really compares to Aaron Stephens – a hauntingly soulful songwriter hailing from the Rio Grande Valley who burst onto the scene with his 2014 debut release, “Hard Times, Straight Lines”.
Soul? Roots? Blues? Stephens works comfortably within each genre’s realm, delivering authenticity in both his vocals and songwriting.
Aaron soon found himself on Ray Wylie Hubbard’s ‘Roots and Branches’ radio broadcast, a weekly program on vaunted Americana station KNBT, tabbed to perform the same night as local heavyhitters Shinyribs and Cody Canada.

John Marc Kohl

A humble, yet enormously talented singer/songwriter, John Marc Kohl is amongst a rare breed of musicians. His music explores a variety of themes, mainly centering around the human experience and individual worth. The authenticity with which he presents himself is rivaled by no other artist in the Bryan/College Station area, and his live shows will keep you on the edge of your seat. His most recent EP, “Beginnings” is available on Soundcloud for download, and is truly worth the listen!
Blake & Austin
A locally sourced folk duo, Blake and Austin epitomize the simplicity and bare bones of folk beginnings. Their sound is truly authentic, and has a no-frills attitude about it. Their music closely mirrors their outlooks on life, and recent EP release ,”Mabank”, offers just that. Relatively “chill” individuals, Blake and Austin promise nothing less than to provide you with a unique and genuine listening experience.
Blake & Austin’s Bandcamp

Katye Hamlin Album Release Party
2015-03-28 20:00 - 23:00
Kayte Hamlin

A college athletic scholarship, seven surgeries, and a full-time job laid the foundation for Katye Hamlin’s journey as a songwriter and drove her to keep pursuing her true passion: music.
Born and raised in Bryan/College Station, country music has always been at her roots. Katye’s diverse taste in genres inspired her sound and songwriting, creating a unique, soulful/bluesy texture and tone. She grew up covering greats like Patsy Cline and Bonnie Raitt, which influences can be heard in her music. So far in her journey, Katye performed for Nashville record labels and top executives at CMT along with sharing the stage with artists like Tracy Lawrence, John Conlee, Johnny Lee, Jack Ingram and more. Her first EP was recorded at Station West (Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Allison Krause) in Nashville last fall and mastered by the world renown Andrew Mendelson. Her first single,”Love is Like Rain,” will hit radio in May. From Texas to Nashville, she’s busting down doors and chasing her dream, all so far as an independent female artist. She is so proud to represent Texas women in country music and is excited to see what God has in store for the future.

KEOS Welcomes Sam Baker
2015-03-27 18:00 - 23:00
Keos welcomes Sam Baker

Sam Baker is a man of few words. Always beautifully chosen, and fully wrought. Words placed like plants and objects in a Zen Garden. His website is stark: white, black, sepia, and shades of gray. Baker turned inward, to relearn the use of his body and brain after a Peruvian train bombing almost killed him in 1986. It’s taken years to heal. Time to reconnect. The road back was arduous, but it opened up new vistas in art, poetry, and music.

Pat Ryan and Johnny Cooper with Austin Meade
2015-03-26 20:00 - 23:00
Pat Ryan

Pat grew up in Lexington,Tx., where he learned how to play and sing. He grew up playing Gospel music at the local First Baptist Church; also playing country and blues music as well. After graduating, Pat tried his hand at college only to find himself pursuing his career in music. After moving to College Station, Tx., Pat played lead guitar for a local band for 6 months. In January of 2012, he then started his own band formally known as Pat Ryan & The Jaded Kind. Pat has a style of blues and country mix, and he’s sure to turn heads with his catchy originals and fun stage presence!

Johnny cooper

The front man of the band that bears his name, Cooper already has reached dual-threat status: he has rare talent that has earned him critical acclaim for his recordings and live shows, and he performs with an energy that captivates audiences in venues of all sizes.
Austin Meade

Austin Meade is a singer/songwriter based out of College Station, Texas. Austin grew up moving around Texas and continues to do more wondering than sitting still. In March of 2013 he branched out from behind the drums and started writing his own music. The last few months have lead Austin on a journey, finding some close friends and bandmates that bring the grit and emotion into shows. With classic influences as well as many modern Americana and Blues influences, you can find Austin’s music somewhere in the middle. Meade’s EP, “Long Ways To Go” and first full length album, “Chief of the Sinners” are available now.

Craft Beer & Cocktail Tuesday
2015-03-24 16:30 - 23:00
CRAFT BEER & COCKTAIL TUESDAY
Join us starting at 4:30pm with drinks served by Cody Schilling!Craft Beer & Cocktail Tuesday

Software Developers Cartel
2015-03-17 18:30 - 21:00, 2015-02-17 18:30 - 23:55
Craft Cocktails will begin at 4:30pm as usual on Tuesdays and continue through the night.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS CARTEL – BRIGHT MINDS FROM CENTRAL TEXAS

The first in a new series of Mini-conferences and meetups about current trends, methods and frameworks in software development – from new advanced hardware devices to a simple app, using an awesome framework to build a web app in no time or hacking an AR Drone in javascript. Developers having fun practicing their craft, and learning new stuff.
Our purpose is to create a space where developers form can come and share their professional and personal experiences with any technology available. By sharing this experience, we hope to create, maintain and grow a community of curious and passionate developers while fostering and promoting best practices in software development and dev frameworks/tools.

Official Website

Rock Away Cystic Fibrosis Pre-Party
2015-03-13 19:00 - 23:00
Beau Means Business Presents

Featuring:
Maybe April

Nick & paige

Piqued Jacks with LUCA
2015-03-12 19:00 - 22:00
Piqued Jacks

The Piqued Jacks are brave souls. Raised in a small village in Italy, they have methodically made their way from obscurity to Austin, the heart of the indie music scene, performing at SXSW in 2013 and 2014, and sharing the stage with international acts such as Atoms for Peace and Bob Schneider. Their powerful alliance and headstrong vision has resulted in rapid success and the positive flow of their career indicates a confident band gaining serious momentum.
LUCA

LUCA formed in the fall of 2013 and began making strides in College Station. After releasing a three song set of demos in the winter, they began working on their debut EP entitled “Mistakes to Learn From” which was released in September of 2014. They put on a high octane show that is not to be missed.

Pecha Kucha NIght
2015-03-10 16:30 - 23:00
Pecha Kucha Night
Craft Cocktail & Craft Beer Tuesday will have an exciting addition on Tuesday, March 10th!

The Institute for Applied Creativity is partnering with AdventGX and Grand Stafford Theater to bring Bryan – College Station and A&M communities together to celebrate creativity. We’re hosting a new, quarterly event officially sponsored by Pecha Kucha, a global movement for informal discussions in casual settings. We’re doing this to learn about people and groups in our local community. Good Pecha Kucha presentations are the ones that uncover the unexpected — unexpected talent, unexpected ideas. The format is simple: 20 slides for 20 seconds each. It’s very informal and the subjects are really diverse. We would like to invite you to present in the future! If you are interested in participating, please contact Carol LaFayette at lurleen@viz.tamu.edu
Admission is free with a suggested donation of $10.

Second Sunday Foreign Film at Grand Stafford Theater
2015-03-08 15:30 - 19:00, 2015-02-08 15:30 - 19:00
Grand Stafford Theater is proud to continue our Second Sunday Foreign Film afternoons. Every second Sunday, Grand Stafford will feature an immersive film experience, complete with insightful commentary and culinary delights provided by local businesses.
Second Sunday Foreign Film afternoons are created in effort to bring the community of Bryan-College Station together to enjoy a film and talk to a neighbor that they may never normally meet anywhere else.
Please mark in your calendar to be at our next Second Sunday Foreign Film afternoon!

Closed for a Private Event
2015-03-07
Grand Stafford Theater will be closed for a private event on Saturday, March 7th.
For more information about booking your next special event at Grand Stafford Theater, please email Austin at austincgoddard@gmail.com

Free First Friday : Quiet Company Album Release Party w/ Somebody's Darling & King and Nation - Premium Passes Avail.
2015-03-06 20:00 - 23:55
Grand Stafford Theater presents: Free First Friday Concert Series feat. Quiet Company album release party!
QUIET COMPANY

The Austin, TX band, Quiet Company has been making a name for themselves nationally for their energetic live shows and their anthemic, dynamic, indie/rock which critics have called a mix of The Beatles, Death Cab for Cutie, Arcade Fire & Weezer with attention from the likes of the NY Times, Paste Magazine, NPR (Top 5 Bands to See at SXSW), Last Call with Carson Daly, Houston Chronicle, Austin Chronicle and more. During SXSW 2014, Quiet Company won Rock Band of the Year to add to their previous 10 Austin Music Awards including Band of the Year, Album of the Year, Rock Band of the Year, Indie Band of the Year and Song of the Year, all won on the strength of their 2011 release, We Are All Where We Belong.
After the success of their 2013 album re-release, A Dead Man on My Back: Shine Honesty Revisited, the band was chosen to be a Red Bull Sound Select Artist and featured on a segment on NPR’s All Things Considered which rekindled interest in We Are All Where We Belong & shot the album up to #7 on the iTunes Rock charts nearly 2 years after release. After an amazing year on the road with festivals including NXNE, CMJ, ACL Fest and more, the band kicked off 2014 in the studio writing their their highly anticipated new full-length, Transgressor, in Austin, TX with Matt Noveskey (Blue October) producing & mixed by the legendary Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam, The Cure). Tracked live for the first time, Quiet Company’s 4th album is their most explosive and exposed collection to date. Frontman Taylor Muse’s characteristically introspective writing style is in full force as he tells tales of love, despair, pain, and redemption, reflecting on his marriage, from burgeoning young love to a relationship tested through time.
Transgressor really shines with its soaring guitar & fuzzed out bass lines, pulsing rhythms and melodic synth lines that perfectly compliment Taylor Muse’s confessional lyrics and cathartic tenor. Evoking comparisons to Foo Fighters, Pavement & Manchester Orchestra, Quiet Company’s Transgressor will be leading the way as rock makes a return to form in 2014. Quiet Company’s Transgressor will be out on Feb. 24, 2015 on Modern Outsider Records.
Quiet Company on Facebook | Official Website
SOMEBODY’S DARLING

If you haven’t yet heard about Somebody’s Darling, an inventive rock band from Dallas, Texas, chances are you will soon. The group has played relentlessly over the last five years, clocking in over 500 shows through multiple headlining tours, numerous festival stops and supporting great artists like Shovels & Rope, Lucero and Divine Fits. The group has gained such a strong reputation across Texas – with their frenetic performances and energetic live show – that they were recently honored by Red Bull Music and invited to become an official Red Bull Sound Select Artist.
SD is spearheaded by lead singer Amber Farris, whose unrefined yet tender vocals belt out blistering songs that command the attention of anyone in earshot. She’s oft-likened to great singers such as Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi and Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards), but there’s no borrowing, and you can’t really make comparisons.
Adult Roommates, available September 16, is the band’s third full-length release and their first new recorded music in two years. Fans of My Morning Jacket, Wilco, Dawes, and the Black Keys will appreciate the band’s unique sound – with roots in live expression rather than that studio-perfected sort of vibe, drawing on a range of vintage influences.
Somebody’s Darling on Facebook | Somebody’s Darling on Twitter | Official Website

King and nation

King and Nation are an indie groove rock band from College Station, TX. Shortly after forming, they issued their first release in April 2014. Spaces is a five song EP that spans a sonic bridge between blues rock, indie, and their pop punk influences of the early 2000’s. They have since been honing their live show at venues across Texas, playing with touring bands such as Driver Friendly, Wild Party, Jess and the Echoes, and The Soft White Sixties. King and Nation have just released their new single, Leave You Behind, which showcases the band’s growth in songwriting and serves as a transition between their first EP and their upcoming debut full length album, Sunsets and Gravity, to be released in Summer 2015.
King and Nation on Facebook | King and Nation on Twitter | Official Website

MilkDrive with Sour Bridges
2015-03-05 19:00 - 23:00
MilkDrive

While most bands point solidly to one member on fiddle, another on mandolin and so on, such limited designations only give half the story on MilkDrive. This Austin-based, acoustic power team features skilled multi-instrumentalists versed in a variety of musical styles.

Sour Bridges

“Sour Bridges combine elements of folk, Americana, bluegrass, and rock n’ roll to conjure a sound reminiscent of rocking chairs on porches, the shade of an old oak tree, and simpler times.” – The Austinist

Craft Beer & Cocktail Tuesday
2015-03-03 16:30 - 23:00, 2015-02-24 16:30 - 22:00, 2015-02-10 16:30 - 22:00
CRAFT BEER & COCKTAIL TUESDAY
Join us starting at 4:30pm with drinks served by Cody Schilling!

Seryn with Friendly Savages
2015-02-26 20:00 - 23:00
Seryn

Seryn is a 6 piece band who calls Denton, Texas their home. When listening to the well layered textures of guitars, ukulele, accordion, bass, viola, banjo and various percussion, it’s hard to imagine This Is Where We Are is the band’s debut effort. The band’s strength resides in their vast musical talent and understanding of dynamics. Their beauty is gracefully displayed through chilling harmonies. Each member and their voice carry the same importance. One is not complete without the other.
It is in this craft that the young band shines so bright. It has earned them a sound that isn’t easily defined, but still proven triumphant. What may first appear as straight folk songs, later transcend into menacing walls of sound. The term “Folk-Pop” has been thrown around and maybe it loosely fits, but we will leave the definitions up to you.
The Denton Record-Chronicle said “Seryn’s set was so dynamic that you could feel the key changes in your feet, through Festival Hall’s concrete floor!”. While the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported, “Watching Seryn perform, it’s hard to convince yourself that those crystalline, multi-part harmonies are not pre-recorded or some kind of sleight of ear.” You can see where this is going…
This is Where We Are was produced by Britton Beisenherz (Ramble Creek), and recorded over the course of a few months. The experience felt at their live show seems to be captured well in these recordings, which was something of great importance to the band. The band has created their own buzz in the most traditional way too by winning people over at their shows. It’s not often that a band without a record out is able to play so many great bills and sold out shows. Much less, be nominated for awards such as Best Folk Artist, and Song of the Year (Dallas Observer). There is no shortage of regional press on them either but the band is excited to take their sound, their show, and their new record on the road. They will be traveling all over the US in the coming months. Go see them play and you will be sucked in!
“Beautiful arrangements (both in instrumentation and in vocal harmonies) and an epic, “big sky” sound that, at times, seems more fitting washing over dilapidated wooden pews in an old church than the usual torn-up couches, vinyl booths and barstools of area venues.” – Dallas Observer
“Like ice-cold water on a hot day, their music is crisp and refreshing, and I cannot get enough. The imagery packed into their set is unreal. It’s like listening to the soundtrack of a great love story, breathtaking drama, and a dark tragedy all rolled into one over-the-top, unparalleled performance.” – My Denton Music
“Seryn is fast becoming a must-see. One of Denton’s hottest bands in any genre…on the verge of big things.” – Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Seryn on Facebook | Seryn on Twitter | Official Website

Friendly Savages

In the two years it has been together, Friendly Savages has established itself as a band to know throughout the Southeast with its powerful, genre-defying sound. Heralded as “one of the best groups working in Austin today” (The Horn), the group serves a double helping of passion and levity in their can’t-miss concerts. Friendly Savages is making big noise with the studio, as well. Their full-length debut, O, Joshua!, found immediate success, climbing to #3 on the iTunes singer songwriter charts and quickly seeing over 100,000 streams on Spotify.
The group is made up of Josh Coulter, John McDonald, Michael Summers and Malcolm White. With each member coming from a distinctly unique musical background, Friendly Savages’ music breaks the mold of typical folk, stretching into rock, blues, and classical music. Concert goers are hard pressed to find an equal to the energy, joy, and musicality of a Friendly Savages show anywhere else. As Back Down South put it, “they’re a band you just need to be listening to, ok?”

The Battle For Texas Independence Fest 2015
2015-02-21 17:00 - 22:00
Come and Take It Productions presents
The Battle for Texas Independence fest 2015

Featuring:

A Deathbed Promise
Critical Assembly (Special Guest Headliner)
Distance, Here
Forever Today
Seldom
More bands TBA…

Each performing band will compete for a chance to play Texas Independence Fest 2015. Multiple winners will be chosen to perform at the festival at Empire Control Room & Garage, as well as the Official TXIF 2015 Pre-Party at the Dirty Dog Bar. Each winner will also receive weekend passes to the festival!

** ATTENTION BANDS: If you’re interested in competing in the BATTLE FOR TXIF 2015 then please contact us ASAP via rob[at]comeandtakeitproductions.com! **

Grand Stafford Theater
106 S Main St
Bryan, TX 77803

Saturday, February 21, 2015
Doors open at 5:00 PM
$13 in advance / $15 day of show

** This event is 18+, however, everyone MUST present a valid I.D. to enter the venue. **

Sponsored by:

Dirty Dog Bar
Jessy Ann Huff Photography
Rage Graphic Design
Ultimate Local Music Worldwide
East Side Tattoo Company
Come and Vape It

Advance tickets can be purchased here:

http://www.comeandtakeitproductions.com/event/727031

Mike Ryan with Haley Cole
2015-02-19 20:00 - 23:00
Mike Ryan

Mike Ryan is a singer/songwriter with a knack for pairing lyrics with music that breathe life into a song. Though Mike would tell you “I’ve still got some road to travel as a writer,” many will argue he’s already established himself when it comes to penning clever new tunes. Smooth and soulful, he has uncommon vocal ability. With the upcoming release of his sophomore album, Bad Reputation, Ryan proves his ability to craft a good lyric in addition to breathing life into a song in a way that no other voice can.
Surrounded by the musically inclined from a young age, Mike’s never been a stranger to notes or rhythm. Early on, Mike was greatly influenced by his grandfather Paul, who directed the Texas National Guard Band for over 20 years. “Gramps was the first person to teach me about the relationship between love and music,” says Mike. “He was very passionate about making music, as well as teaching it, and that passion was infectious.” Additionally, two of Mike’s uncles are currently band directors and Mike’s Father, Ted also has a passion for music and the performing arts. “I have great memories of my dad performing in plays and musicals as I was growing up,” Mike recalls, “and he still plays bass with his blue grass band every time he gets the chance.” Mike honed his own talent early as a member of his middle school and high school choirs.
The talent Mike has been blessed with as singer/songwriter has certainly not been ignored. After releasing his first full length album in the Fall of 2012, Night Comes Falling, Mike grabbed the attention of Sea Gayle Music, one of the top independent publishing companies in country music, out of Nashville, Tennessee. Mike strengthened his team again with APA Talent of Nashville coming on board to oversee tour booking in January of 2014.
Since May of 2013, Mike frequently travels to Nashville for writing sessions. Mike’s second full length album, Bad Reputation, showcases ten new songs, all written or co-written by him. The songwriting and vocal talent that so many have come to recognize shine brilliantly with this new project. The single, “Dancing All Around It,” grabs you with the first line and keeps you hooked as the story unfolds. “Easy,” reminds you of the smooth classic country hits of the 80’s, and “Wasting No More Whiskey” is an artfully written country composition. “I had some trouble narrowing it down to just 10 songs out of all the new ones we had written, but that’s a nice problem to have,” says Mike. “It’s a great feeling when you have more good songs than space on an album.”
The past success of The First One and Night Comes Falling coupled with his current momentum as an artist has developed high-anticipation for this new album. With his first 4 radio singles from the previous albums all landing in the top 25, Mike has high expectations for Bad Reputation.
Mike Ryan’s Website
Haley Cole

The truly transcendent figures in American Music all share a common instrument, and a great number of them have had that instrument shaped and consecrated in the most venerated wellspring in all of song. That instrument, that source, is the human voice lifted in praise in the gospel tradition. No other musical tool has the capacity to bring every nuance of human experience and emotion to bear on the ribbon of sound as does the voice. Down thru time it’s been the foundation of all music, and it’s how Haley Cole will build a kingdom in your heart.
And with wisdom and humility far outweighing her years Haley realizes that her voice is a divine gift, that it has a purpose and a promise to fulfill and fortunately for us she has decided to let it shine. With the same glowing intensity found in her singing she softly but insistently pounded the top of a picnic table outside Gruene Hall on an autumn afternoon and said “I was given a voice, I was given this voice, and I have to sing… I know deep down that is the reason for my being, to try to relate to people in song. It’s what I’ve been called to do and I’m not going to deny it.”
Moments later the conviction, passion, and honesty in that voice thoroughly captivated the typically polite yet casually passive weekend tourist crowd of Gruene Hall. Each of her songs were received with the kind of rapturous applause that even celebrated headliners of that hallowed dancehall can find a bit challenging to summon. But Haley’s gentle command of that space subtly reveals a history of channeling the secret forces that lay hidden within music.
Her magnetism on stage and her ability to hold an audience spellbound is the natural harvest of years spent singing spirituals with her family at church gatherings and small revivals surrounding her tiny hometown of Birch Creek, Texas. There she witnessed the magic that moves in music and felt its healing power for the first time.
Haley Cole’s Website

Valentine's Day in the Lounge - Drink Specials. No cover.
2015-02-14 18:00 - 23:00 | Grand Stafford Theater
Enjoy drink specials and relax at the bar or in our 3rd floor lounge. No cover. Open from 6 till all the kids go home.

Free First Friday Concert feat. The Nightowls & Hazy Ray
2015-02-06 20:00 - 23:55
Defacto Productions & Grand Stafford Theater present Free First Friday Concert Series feat. The Nightowls & Hazy Ray!
THE NIGHTOWLS

THE NIGHTOWLS
It’s 1,390 miles from Austin, Texas to Detroit, but when Austin band The Nightowls rev their musical engines, that distance disappears with the speed of sound. But The Nightowls not only channel the Motor City’s classic dancin’-in-the-street beats; they build on them to create an irresistible neo-soul sound that’s all their own.
Founded by lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Harkrider, the Nightowls—all ten of them—have been spreading their sound all over Texas ever since August 2013, releasing a critically acclaimed debut album, Good as Gold, and the toetapping, four-song EP Good as Gold B-Sides – which includes Austin’s official theme song, “Nobody Ever Wants to Leave” – in September of 2014. Good As Gold (The A-Sides) will be released on vinyl, giving fans an opportunity to hear The Nightowls’ jukebox-ready music the way it was meant to be heard, with the vinyl’s warm tones filling their ears and hearts.
Hailing from all over the map geographically and musically, the Nightowls claim terrain from New England to Arizona and influences from Americana to funk. Bassist Rob Alton was trained at Berklee College of Music; other bandmates honed their skills in dive bars and intimate listening rooms. Together, they push R&B’s boundaries while staying true to its horn- and harmony-laden heart, from the catchy hooks and soulful vocals to the crisp suits and dazzling dresses they wear onstage.
Fresh from performances at KGSR-FM’s “Blues on the Green” concert series and the Austin City Limits Music Festival, where they wowed a capacity crowd, The Nightowls are currently putting the finishing touches on their sophomore album, which is slated for release in 2015. Recorded at legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama (where legends like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Joe Tex recorded some of the best soul music the world has ever known), the eight-song album is bursting with the modern-day Motown sound and smart, catchy, original songs that the band is known for. Members of the original Fame backing band, “The Swampers,” including Spooner Oldham on keys, bassist David Hood, and vocalists The Shoal Sisters, who played on nearly every album recorded during the golden age of Fame Studios, appear on Fame alongside The Nightowls, bridging the gap between soul music’s legendary past and its vibrant future.
Footage is being compiled for a short documentary on The Nightowls’ Fame sessions, and the band is also preparing to shoot a music video for the album’s infectious lead single, “Get Up!”
Alongside acts like Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and St. Paul and the Broken Bones, The Nightowls are leading the soul revival that’s been brewing for years. There’s no use trying to resist. Just crank up the volume and sing along.

The Nightowls on Facebook | The Nightowls on Twitter | Official Website
HAZY RAY

Hazy Ray is an amalgamation of sights and sounds you may have seen and heard before, but never blended together so distinctively to create an experience that ensnares the senses and communicates the soul. The five piece band boldly describes their sound as “… at the core, true rhythm & blues,” pulling from their vast influences that range from Jamie Cullum and Dave Matthews to Radiohead and Maroon 5. Hazy Ray’s head-turning sound is equal parts new and familiar, as the band continuously draws from a seemingly-endless bag of tricks. In 2011, the band’s premiere performance in New Orleans birthed the signature sound they now brand as “New Orleans Rock.” Their debut album, “Deep and Shallow,” was recorded at Houston’s Wire Road Studios later that year.
On stage, Hazy Ray is known for their precise and exceptionally energetic live show that leaves audiences dancing to new charts and singing along to familiar, albeit different, covers.The Texas natives stepped onto the New Orleans scene quickly, landing on bills with singer/song-writer John Lefler of Dashboard Confessional, Everclear, Free-Sol, Hunter Hayes, Grammy award-winning Rapper/Actor Ludacris, blues greats Tinsley Ellis and Tab Benoit, and festival headliners Cowboy Mouth, Chicago, and Earth, Wind, and Fire. Music Festival appearances at Springboard South (Houston), Gretna Music Fest, French Quarter Fest, and performances during SXSW and Jazz Fest this past year show promise into future festivals. The band’s 2012 and 2013 summer tours have expanded the group into a National Touring Act, performing across 15 states. Hazy Ray has concluded their summer tour and performed their 100th show of the year by headlining the New Orleans House of Blues Parish Room.
Hazy Ray on Facebook | Hazy Ray on Twitter | Official Website

The Connection featuring music from Joe Teichman
2015-02-03 18:00 - 22:00
