Bullock Museum announces the long-awaited return of Music Under the Star

June 15, 2016 (AUSTIN, TX) — The Bullock Texas State History Museum, celebrating its 15th anniversary, has announced the 2016 lineup for its popular Music Under the Star July concert series, this year featuring The Midnight Stroll, Walker Lukens, Riders Against the Storm, Quiet Company, and a special performance by Grammy Award winners Los TexManiacs with special guest "Living Legend" Flaco Jiménez.

"I'm very excited about this year's lineup," Bullock Museum Director of Film and Theaters Josh Jacobs said. "Working closely with Austin City Limits, we have come up with a fantastic series that represents some of the best in Texas talent."

The concerts are a favorite with visitors who like to bring camp chairs and blankets to relax on the shady Lone Star Plaza under the museum's 34-foot bronze star sculpture and listen to their favorite Texas bands for three Friday nights in July. The free, family friendly concerts are held from 6 to 9 p.m. There is free parking at the museum, located at 1800 N. Congress Ave., and food and beverages will be available for purchase on-site.

Kicking off the series July 8 is The Midnight Stroll, featuring Ghostland Observatory frontman Aaron Behrens and Jonas Wilson (previously from Lomita and White Lights) on guitar. Writing, recording, and rehearsing with a crack team of Austin musicians, The Midnight Stroll blends elements of soulful rock and heartfelt blues into a refreshing sound. Opening that night is Walker Lukens, whose soulful, emotive tenor and alt-pop songwriting have been compared to Harry Nilsson, Tom Waits and Pavement. After fronting other bands, the Austin-based musician released the Year of the Dog EP and the full length Devoted in 2013, all receiving praise from NPR, American Songwriter, and Billboard magazine, among others.

On July 15, the concert series continues with a special performance featuring Grammy Award winners Los TexManiacs with special guest "Living Legend" Flaco Jiménez. An enchanting combination of Tex Mex conjunto, Texas rock and a touch of well-cured blues and R&B riffs best describes Los TexManiacs. Founded by Max Baca (bajo sexto, vocals), the band is a product of his wide-ranging experience touring and recording with everyone from his father's family conjunto, Flaco Jiménez, the original Texas Tornados, Los Super Seven and even the Rolling Stones. Few, if any, artists in conjunto and Tejano music have received the level of acclaim Flaco Jiménez has enjoyed over the course of a career that spans six decades. Jiménez introduced the traditional conjunto sound to mainstream pop and country listeners through collaborations with the Texas Tornados, Dwight Yoakam and the Mavericks, and he is celebrated by adventurous rock fans through his work with Ry Cooder, Carlos Santana, Doug Sahm and the Rolling Stones.

The final concert on July 22 features Austin-based Quiet Company. Through the release of three LPs and endless touring, this band has been making a name for itself nationally with energetic live shows and their anthemic, dynamic, indie rock sound – called by critics a mix of The Beatles, Death Cab for Cutie, Arcade Fire and Weezer. They've gained a huge fan base while gathering praise from The New York Times, TIME, NPR, The Austin Chronicle and more, and have been compared to the Foo Fighters. This band won Rock Band of the Year during SXSW 2014, adding to their previous 10 Austin Music Awards following their 2011 release We Are All Where We Belong. Opening on July 22 is Riders Against the Storm, a musical movement in Austin that can only be described as historic. As recent recipients of Band of the Year honors at the 2014 and 2015 Austin Music Awards, Chaka and Qi Dada (husband and wife) represent a significant first in the Live Music Capital of the World. Winning the title twice in a row is an accomplishment shared by only a handful of bands, including Spoon and Los Lonely Boys.

For details and concert updates, visit TheStoryofTexas.com, or follow @BullockMuseum on Facebook and Twitter.

Music Under The Star is Supported by Frost Bank. Media sponsorship provided by KUTX. Presented in partnership with Atomic Picnic, KLRU, and Austin City Limits.

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​​The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, creates experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions that illuminate Texas history, people, and culture, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with a screen the size of Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives, organizations, and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life. For more information, visit www.TheStoryofTexas.com or call (866)369-7108.