homeTOWNESfest 2023
The idea for homeTOWNESfest came to Bruce Payne after experiencing the annual Townes Wake at the Old Quarter in Houston, a venue Townes Van Zandt played regularly until his death in 1997. Townes was born in Fort Worth, and Bruce felt that a celebration of his music should be happening here also. After months of research, he and wrote a multimedia show, with live music, actors and narration, and visuals, all based on Townes life and music.
The show was first performed at Arts Fifth Avenue in Fort Worth in 2013, and the response was such that a second day of “open mic” music was added, with local and out of town musicians coming in to play Townes' music. It has received enough attention that Bruce has succeeded in getting the City of Fort Worth to officially declare March 7 as Townes Van Zandt Day.
The tribute has continued in various venues, from Arts Fifth, to the Grotto, to Fort Worth Live and the Post at River East. This year it will move to its permanent home at Southside Preservation Hall and Rose Chapel. The versatility and intimacy of the venue frees us to reach the event's full potential as a true Fort Worth destination event.
The 2023 festival kicks off Friday night, March 10th with the films "Be Here to Love Me" (about Townes Van Zandt) and "Without Getting Killed or Caught" the acclaimed new film about Guy and Susanna Clark.
“Be Here to Love Me” is a 2004 documentary directed by Margaret Brown in her feature-length debut. She has since gone on to a career full of film-related awards and prizes; Time Out magazine lists “Be Here” as number 7 on the list of “50 Greatest Music Films Ever.”
“Without Getting Killed or Caught” is based on material from Susanna Clark's diaries and Tamara Saviano's 2016 book about the life and music of Guy Clark and their frequent collaborations—and missteps and mayhem—with Van Zandt. The story is told from Susanna's point of view and features footage and comments from several close friends and musical stalwarts, including Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Vince Gill, Verlon Thompson, and Terry and Jo Harvey Allen. Susanna's narration is voiced by Sissy Spacek.
Then Sunday, March 12 begins with a singer/songwriter tribute to the music of Townes Van Zandt featuring some of the best talent in the metroplex, followed by a performance of Payne’s multimedia show "Townes Van Zandt and the Fort Worth Blues".
FRIDAY, MARCH 10
5:30 pm: DOORS
6:30 pm: FILM "BE HERE TO LOVE ME" (99 minutes)
8:15 pm: INTERMISSION
8:30 pm: FILM “WITHOUT GETTING KILLED OR CAUGHT" (95 minutes)
10:30 pm: SONG CIRCLE
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
1:00 pm: DOORS
2:00 pm: SINGER/SONGWRITER TRIBUTE
6:30 pm: PLAY "TOWNES VAN ZANDT AND THE FORT WORTH BLUES” (2 acts with a brief intermission)
TICKETS
Friday: $10
Sunday: $20
Full festival pass: $25