We have started the 15th year of Viva Big Bend, an exceptional showcase of live music here in Far West Texas.
The music festival is the creation of Texas music impresario and publisher, Stewart Ramser, who started Texas Music Magazine in 2000 and ultimately modeled the Viva festival after its format. The festival has been deservedly recognized as one of the best small music festivals in Texas; it has traditionally drawn a large and appreciative audience, offering something for lovers of all genres of music, from country to rock to Latino to blues and so on.
As in the past, the music performances take place in various locations in the tri-county area of the Big Bend (that is, Brewster, Presidio and Jeff Davis counties). Of course, this requires transportation and movement between venues but also offers the opportunity to experience unique and individual places within the region.
Many of the past venues will again be utilized for performances, including the legendary Starlight Theater in Terlingua, where opening nights are held. Alpine will have the majority of events in a variety of places, from the courtyard of the Holland Hotel to the Amigo Sports Bar, Railroad Blues, the Hotel Ritchey, the Granada Theater, Big Bend Saddlery, the outdoor pavilion at the Alpine Visitors Center, the Tex Pop Gallery, the Italian Restaurant Lucia, the Museum of the Big Bend, and the 5th St. Art Gallery. In Marfa, Planet Marfa will again host events, as will the pool at the St George Hotel.
Marathon’s Gage Hotel will host VIP events while the Desert Ghost Distillery and the Ritchey Bros building will stage free shows. Fort Davis’ Kelley Pavilion will again be the venue for a full day of free music by various featured bands, while The Rendezvous will host for the third time. The Cibolo Creek Ranch will again serve as a special venue, while Daly Park and the Casa Agave in Presidio will also host performances. Each is an excellent site for listening to music, although some – like Railroad Blues and Planet Marfa – can get quite crowded with listeners and dancers, and seating can be hard to come by at the Holland Hotel, and even the Amigo. It is always best to get to a venue early to secure a place.
For most events, you will need a wristband for entry; it may be purchased online at the Viva Big Bend website. Both general admission and VIP ticket prices have increased substantially from previous years yet still offer value. For residents of the tri-county area, discount vouchers are available in advance at your local Lowes supermarket; you will need proof of residency when picking up your discounted wristband at Viva’s Holland Hotel box office. Special performances at the Cibolo Creek Ranch and the Gage Hotel in Marathon — previously available with a general ticket — will only be accessible this year with the more expensive VIP ticket. For current ticket prices and bookings see the Viva website (vivabigbend.com). With that said, there are many free events in which featured musicians perform (most specifically at the Kelley Pavilion in Fort Davis and the Ritchey Bros. in Marathon) …. So even the most frugal among us get to experience top-notch music at Viva; this is one of the many features of a festival designed not only for those who reside beyond West Texas but for grateful locals!
As in the festival’s previous years, many of the primarily Texas-based performers slated to play in 2026 are returnees from past years, having proven themselves consummate and popular performers. Together with a collection of new acts and a large selection of local West Texas talent, they showcase a wide range of high-quality music in a broad variety of musical genres, although a preponderance of performers might best be considered country, alt-country, and Americana … assuming we must label!
Among the returnees are various country and rockabilly masters, including Two Tons of Steel; Anthony Ray Wright, playing classic country; Summer Dean, the Texas queen of unadulterated honky tonk music; the neo-traditional country band, Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies), who are also slated to play a VIP show at the Gage; the Getocowboys, who offer their take on Cajun country music; Sour Bridges (who played the original 2012 Festival and many times thereafter) and who bring their “browngrass” blend of country, rock and bluegrass to the stage; and the great country-rock sounds of the West Texas Exiles. Legendary country and Americana artist, Butch Hancock, is scheduled to do a VIP performance at Cibolo Ranch.
The blues and Americana music mark their return with the presence of blazing guitarists and soulful singers Jordan Matthew Young, Jacki Venson, and Scrappy Judd Newcomb, while the Zach Walter band features Americana rock. Of special note are the return of high energy entertainers, Patrice Pike, of indie rock roots, and Donovan Keith, with his soul, funk and rhythm and blues fusion. Bob Schneider, former lead singer of the rock band Ugly Americans, will perform an acoustic set of experimental electric rock which mixes folk, rap, bluegrass, reggae and country at two VIP events at the Gage and Cibolo Ranch.
Latin-infused groups also return, including Los Desechos, who offer up their “mezcla” of sounds, specializing in cumbias, while the Selena tribute band, Bidi Bidi Banda. whose lead singer Stephanie Bergarra made her solo debut at last year’s Viva, will return as a full band. The driving sound of La Frontera Bugalu will again hit the stage playing their cumbia-reggae inspired rock, while Will Dupuy’s La Tampiquena, will offer up Tex-Mex, country-folk tunes. And last but certainly not least, the same Will Dupuy, as “Mr. Will,” will be back again for the kids.
There are many newcomers on tap for this year’s festival, playing in a variety of different musical genres, although as mentioned earlier, country, alt-country, and Americana roots music predominate. Country roots-rocker, Jeff Crosby, will perform, as will the “outlaw” country-rock and Americana bands, the Ransom Brothers, and Chasen Wayne and the Honky Tonk Machine. Legendary song writer Walt Wilkins will give a public performance, and together with red-dirt, country artist Brandon Ryder, will also do a VIP show at the Gage. Company L is a punk-infused country band, the Texas String Assembly (which has been described as a “hippie jug band”) play bluegrass, folk/country on acoustic instruments, while Trainwreck Express blend soul, funk and country. Hamilton Loomis — an electric blues guitarist — fuses blues, funk, soul and rock, Lew Apollo plays genre bending soul, blues and alt rock, while Nakia and the Never Not Now play vintage soul, rock and synth-driven tunes. The alternative rock and pop duo, Jackopiece, will do a single VIP show at Cibolo Ranch.
The exceptional musical talents of local Big Bend musicians again feature predominantly in this year’s festival. These include the foot-stomping country sounds of the Doodlin’ Hogwallops (who have played every Viva festival since the beginning, traditionally closing out the festival on its final night at the Railroad Blues); singer-songwriter-fiddler extraordinaire, Doug Moreland, and his superb western swing band; the border sounds of David Beebe and Primo Carrasco (and Beebe’s alt lounge band, the Beebe 3); the Americana songs and beautiful harmonies of The Swifts; the indie rock of Marijuana Sweet Tooth; mariachi from Grupo Alegre; the Latino beat of the Pure Party Allstarz; and the wonderful Beatles tribute band, Rubber Revolver. Returning also are Alpine’s honky-tonking Latecomers, and two Terlingua-based music makers, Peso Supreme (a classic rock band), and the Americana country rocker, Moses Martinez. The newest local band coming out of Presidio and Ojinaga is Proyecto D(eluxe), who offer up a selection of cumbia, Tejano, and Pop music. Most of the performances by these named local bands are free to the public. As well, a free round table of other local musicians took place at the Alpine Visitor’s Center on Wed, June 22.
As in previous years the festival will also sponsor a late Friday afternoon tailgate party on Murphy Street in Alpine, complete with free barbecue and music, as well as a cowboy breakfast at Big Bend Saddlery in Alpine (with music from locals Jenna Paulette, Steve Martinez and Raul Quinones, and Jon Davis and the Super Spur Boys).
As in past years, there is more great music available for Viva Big Bend 2026 than any one individual can take in. But whatever your preferences and choices may be, be assured that you will not go wrong!
The full lineup and schedule of shows (always subject to change) for Viva Big Bend 2026 is available on-line at vivabigbend.com
