by WES FERGUSON
Ah, the joys of a Hill Country music festival, where a city slicker can still wear his straw novelty cowboy hat with pride – never feeling like a poseur.
Where tie-dye is always in style.
Where thousands of people can sit in lawn chairs or on blankets or just in the green grass, coming together to form a sea of swaying, toe-tapping good vibes.
Such was the scene at the Old Settler’s Music Festival in Driftwood this weekend. The biggest crowds amassed in the open sunshine around the main stage, listening to national acts performing some of the best in roots and Americana music to be found.
More in-the-know festival-goers made their way to the smaller stage around back, nestled in a shady pecan grove beside the green waters of Onion Creek.
While many music festivals in the Austin area have exploded in size in recent years, leading to worries about safety and crowd control, Old Settler’s has held onto a more easy-going, family-friendly atmosphere.
Old Settler’s has been around since 1987 and is held at the Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood.
Vendors sold the usual festival fare, ranging from henna tattoos, jewelry and art to Tibetan curios and 10-minute massages. Salt Lick sold plenty of barbecue.
