By Lynne Margolis

(May/June 2012/vol. 5 – Issue 3)

A little layer of dust could hardly tamp down the enthusiasm shared by performers and audience members celebrating the silver anniversary of Old Settler’s Music Festival on a lovely spring weekend in the Texas hill country. More than 30 folk, bluegrass, roots and Americana bands performed on four stages at the Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCullough in Driftwood April 19-22, including Grammy-nominated local darling Sarah Jarosz (pictured) who won the festival’s first youth competition in 2002 as a 10-year-old.

The lineup also included area residents Iron & Wine, Bob Schneider, James McMurtry, Sam Baker and the Wheeler Brothers, along with JJ Grey & Mofro, the Bottle Rockets, Marshall Crenshaw, and Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit.