Taste Addison, now in its 21st year, causes hundreds of Dallas residents to flock north of I-635 for its family-friendly, hybrid music and food festival each year. I rarely venture this far north these days, but do plan on making the trek for this weekend-long mini-fest in May. I’m looking forward to gorging myself on everything from chili cheese fries to BBQ brisket sliders, and enjoying a complete Texas-style calorie overload.
But Taste Addison is not just about the food. This year, you can enjoy a lineup of artists with deep country and Southern rock roots, including acts like Reckless Kelly, Turnpike Troubadours, Sister Hazel and Blue October. The line-up hasn’t been fully announced yet, but you can check out the Taste Addison website for additional acts closer to the event. Here’s a few of the already announced performers for this year:
Blue October
These Texas-based rock stars are no newbies to the game. For 18 years, they’ve been known for their dynamic sound and platinum album releases. Shortly after their Taste Addison gig, the group’s famed record producer/lyricist/guitarist/lead singer, Justin Furstenfeld, is set to begin his 24-date one-man show, fully equipped with intimate showcases, spoken word, Q&A sessions and acoustic never-before-heard songs for die-hard fans.
Reckless Kelly
After 15 years together and a whopping nine album releases, these Austin-based country rockers released their last album in 2011 titled Good Luck & True Love and continue to swoon fans across the nation with their powerful live performances.
Sister Hazel
This Southern rock/alternative group from Gainesville, Fla., has been around just as long as Reckless Kelly and continues to gain momentum on the Billboard album charts after eight full-length albums. The band’s members recently spent a whole weekend on a booze cruise with fans during what I’ve heard is the “world’s largest floating music festival” dubbed the Rock Boat.
Turnpike Troubadours
Five members make up this Oklahoma-based Red Dirt group. After releasing their third full length album, Goodbye Normal Street, they’ve toured the country throwing back beers with bigger and bigger crowds along the way. In March, the quintet riled up fans and got the crowd movin’ at White Horse Saloon for its official SXSW showcase in Austin.
Breaking Southwest
This group of up-and-coming country artists from North Texas played Channel 8’s NYE celebration at Victory Park. After winning the Texas Motor Speedway Fast Track to Fame Big D NYE competition, members performed live in front of a crowd of nearly 40,000 people after releasing a mere two albums and a music video.
Tim Urban
Discovered in 2010 on American Idol, Texas-based country artist Tim Urban won over viewers with his smooth vocals and smalltown boy charm. After finishing seventh in the competition, this 23-year-old singer-songwriter performed on the American Idol summer concert tour and released his first EP Heart of Me later that year. Rumor has it he’s now working on a full-length album to be released before the end of 2013.
Ryan Edgar
Eclectic Dallas-based performer Ryan Edgar has been seen traveling cross-country between Los Angeles and Memphis, performing original songs with classic rock and soul influences. After making local pit stops at the House of Blues Dallas and the Granada Theater, the artist has recently appeared on the television series Troubadour Texas, which provides viewers a sneak peek into the lives of some of some of today’s most talented singers and songwriters. You can check out him and more artists from the series on the Troubadour, TX Stage that weekend.
Dos Equis Main Stage Schedule
Friday – May 17
6:00 p.m……………… Breaking Southwest
7:30 p.m………………. Troubadour Texas Presents
9:00 p.m……………… Reckless Kelly
10:30 p.m…………….Turnpike Troubadours
Saturday – May 18
10:30 p.m…………….Blue October
Sunday – May 19
2:00 p.m……………… Tim Urban
Troubadour, TX Stage Schedule
Saturday – May 19
2 p.m. …………………. Phoenix Hart, Kirk Thurmond and Cary Cooper
3 p.m…………………… Tom Prasada-Rao, Melissa Greener and Rohn Bailey
4:00 p.m. ……………. Jon Christopher Davis, Ryan Edgar and Tom Faulkner
5:00 p.m. ……………. Zane Williams Band
6:00 p.m……………… Little Brave Band
Sunday – May 20
2:00 p.m……………… TJ Broscoff, Guthrie Kennard and Max Stalling
3:00 p.m……………… BlackTopGYPSY
4:00 p.m……………… Woody Russell Band
Live music isn’t your thing? Check out the inaugural Taste Run 5K, fully equipped with food stops to snack along the way or channel your inner child and hop on one of the many carnival rides. Sherlock’s is even hosting a “flair bartending exhibition” where local bartenders show off their moves by flipping, spinning, throwing, balancing and catching bottles, drinks and various bar tools while making your whiskey and Coke.
What: The 21st Annual Taste Addison
When: Friday, May 17, 6 p.m.-midnight
Saturday, May 18, noon-midnight
Sunday, May 19, noon-5 p.m.
Where: Addison Circle Park
Come grab yourself a beer, a mouthful of food and join the nearly 70,000 people who regularly attend the annual get-together. Parking is free at the corner of Dallas Parkway and Arapaho and it’s cheap to get in at only $5-$15 a pop.
See you there!