Kerrville’s Welcome Home Festival brought a magical weekend of peace and calm enjoyment of folk music.
Tucked away in the almost hidden Quiet Valley Ranch of Kerrville, Texas resides a folk music festival full of commrodry, emotion, and peace. It goes by the name of “Welcome Home Festival.” Upon first entry to trhe ranch, visitors are immediately greeted at the gates with the phrase “welcome home.” These words are reflected through the entire experience of this festival.
All ages can be seen present, from young children playing around the grounds to older couples swaying and laughing to the music being played on stage. Those who chose to travel from afar for the festival set up camp bordering the stages and food trucks on the ranch. There is an ambience to this festival like no other. Different from other concerts and festivals, there is no pushing crowds or rush. Everyone is there for the same reason, to enjoy music and one another’s company. The Threadgill Theater has a specific rule that the festival is a “listening festival,” meaning that the crowd is expected to calmly and quietly listen to the music on stage without distraction of phone calls or conversations with one another.
In breaks between shows, the Kerr County store provided Frito Pies and beer for those at the festival. Live music was played on a stage near the store as festival-goers were able to enjoy eachothers company, dance, and enjoy their drinks and food. The festival even provided a designated area for children to play during these breaks, which was likely a wonderful relief for those with children attending the festival. In the Threadgill Theater the main acts of the festival are played. Some of which were Twain, Anna Tivel, Daniel Fears, Adrianne Lenker, and Lomelda.
Daniel Fears enticed the audience with his soulful ballads of love and relationships. Accompanied by an orchestral choir, Daniel had cellists filling the theather with emotional music reflecting his lyrics. During a song describing fights in his time in a long distance relationship, Daniel had the audience engage with his music by repeating the lyrics along with him.
Adrianne Lenker, the lead singer of Big Thief, had a set that was highly anticipated by many, as the crowd piles in sitting at the front of the stage on blankets eagerly awaiting her arrival. As she arrived, the audience grew calm and attentive, captivated by merely her presence on stage. She performed alone, with only a guitar to accompany her. She sang songs from Abyss Kiss (2018) as well as from Songs and Instrumentals (2020). During one of her songs, “symbol,” Adrianne had almost a haunting presence on stage quietly but powerfully belting out the lyrics to her song. “Do you not do you not tell that smile always makes me well. Do you see circling through? That’s how one returns from two. Do you not do you not tell.” Her beautiful poetic lyrcism and deliverly leaves the audience quietly attentive during her set, each listener digesting the melodies carefully. During one of her most popular songs “Anything” the audience can be seen tearfully swaying along to her music. Viewers were so focused on her art that there was hardly a single person recording from their cell phone. The entire audience was just quietly focusing on the beauty and magic of Adrianne’s unique sound. Her performance could not have been a more perfect addition to this magical serene weekend.
Lomelda was the second to last act of the weekend, they sang unreleased songs surrounding ideas such as the death of their grandmother and their childhood. Lomelda swooned the audience with her soft soothing vocals accompanied by a synth they use to create the background of their music during their set.
The notorious Jack Barksdale ended the festival with a bang. The young musician sang ballads of love and childhood, strumming his guitar faster than the eye could follow alongside the notes of his harmonica. His humble yet charismatic demeanor was seen through his personal anecdotes surrounding his music. He captivated the audience with his country twang and powerful voice. There could have been no better way to end the festival.
Overall, the festival was a lovely experience that gave folk music lovers a safe haven full of life and shared appreciation of music. It was enjoyable and entertaining, and an experience that is unlikely to be forgotten by festival-goers. With a solar eclipse, magical folk music, and food and friends, nothing could have better created a peaceful weekend.
I am from Austin, Texas and grew up in a small town near San Antonio. I started photography when I was a young teen and I have always had an inclination towards art and music. I have been running a small photo business for six years now, and have learned and exciting things as well as engaged in really cool photography-related opportunities in that time. When I am not taking photos, I am a college student studying electronic media, I love thrifting, I run a small zine called "Sea of Youth" with my best friends, and I am exploring the outdoors.
