The year known as 2010 is about to be placed on the shelf with all the other years before it. It was a good year for our little festival event in Mesquite. We topped the 25,000 mark in attendance at the RTF and we expect even greater things in 2011 -- the fifth anniversary event.
It was an eventful and tumultuous year for music. This past year saw the record industry struggle under the transformation of how people buy music. Internet sources and streaming music sources became the present ... not the future, but the here and now.
Limewire was sued and order to shut down -- giving way to Frostwire. Sony is launching a streaming music site. As far as the way music is purchased in 2011, Apple and Itunes will continue to reign supreme. Others will come and others will go. Itunes will still be king when the dust settles.
On the Texas music front, 2010 marked the end of an era. Cross Canadian Ragweed ended a 16-year run as the 800 pound gorilla of the Red Dirt music scene. The 2010 Real. Texas. Festival. was among the final shows the group played.
That being said, as we look forward to 2011, I would submit to you that one of the top groups to watch will be The Departed. It's a super group featuring Cody Canada and Jeremy Plato of CCR, blues roadhouse rocker Seth James and road warrior drummer Dave Bowen of Stoney Larue and Jason Boland fame.
We also see the new year being a year of girl power in the Texas music scene, and perhaps mainstream country for that matter. Texan Miranda Lambert enjoyed a monster year with several awards and well-deserved critical acclaim for what may be her seminal album, "Revolution."
It would seem logical that there will be a number of Texas female artists and groups seeking to capitalize on Lambert's success.
That said, here are a few locally to check out. When you get a chance, to go to one of their shows.
Lantana -- Three moms from north Texas who bring a Dixie Chick-type of harmony and approach to their sets. They've been a fixture at festivals and fairs all over the region ... including the State Fair of Texas.
Sara Jaffe -- One of the most unique styles and voices out there. Think Allison Krause meets Days of the New and you have Sara Jaffe. The song "Clementine" might be one of my favorite singles released in 2010.
Blacktop Gypsy -- A guitar-slinging, mandolin-shredding, fiddle-sawing duo who play, produce, write, arrange all of their music. They are true artists who are not only great players and singers, but technicians.
The Trishas -- It's very rare when four solo artists can be brought together to form a cohesive group. Normally, you have over-singing and upstaging going on as one of the members of the group try to establish him or herself as the dominant performer. Not so with The Trishas -- and I know from personal experience Liz Foster has a huge voice. Still, Liz, Kelley Mickwee, Savannah Welch and Jamie Wilson have it figured out. The result is a soulful, bluegrass almost gospel sound.
The Courtyard Hounds -- Hardly a breakout or new artist like the great female artists mentioned previously, but look for even greater things from this group in 2011. The Courtyard Hounds are comprised of some very familiar faces -- Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks. Their debut album is getting rave reviews.
There are others who should and probably will make an impact on the local and national music scene in 2011, but alas, we've run out of time. Here's to a wonderful and save start to the next decade.
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