Grounded In Music
National recording artist Jack Ingram and fellow Texas musician Hayes Carll are joining forces at this year’s Grounded in Music Benefit Concert that supports a program providing instruments and music instruction for under-resourced youth in Austin.
Ingram, who was born in The Woodlands, Texas, was named 2008’s Best New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music and his song “Barefoot and Crazy” became the summer anthem of 2009 after topping out at number ten on the country music charts. Though he hasn’t released any albums since 2009, his Texas country style is still the favorite of many in the Lone Star State.
Partnering with Ingram for the benefit is singer/songwriter Hayes Carll. Also a native of The Woodlands, Texas, Carll is well known for winning the Americana Music Award’s 2008 Song of the Year Award for the catchy “She Left Me for Jesus.” His sound is more raw than Ingram’s and fits squarely between the country and Americana genres.
The two will entertain guests at one of Austin’s lesser-known venues. The Gibson Guitar Showroom at Penn Field is a smaller, more intimate space highlighted with plenty of the world-renowned brand’s stringed beauties. Don’t expect a dimly lit, grungy venue, but rather a bright, clean one facilitating a focus on quality music in a relaxed atmosphere.
The focus of the event, however, isn’t the famous musicians or the great venue, but rather the beneficiaries: Grounded in Music. Active in the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of Austin, the organization seeks to change the lives of under-privileged youth through music. They offer instruments, teach music theory and expose students to well-known musicians through special guest performances. The money raised will help support their programs and future ventures. In the past, funds raised have helped build a high-quality music studio in South Austin and provided instruments for students.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 15. General public tickets can be purchased online at Front Gate Tickets for $35-$50 each. You’ll want to arrive on time, as Grounded in Music’s students will perform at the beginning of the evening.
