Past Events

We had yet another totally tubular Rockin’ the River season and it just wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. A GIANT thank you goes out to Andrews Distributing Company, North Texas Marine, Body Glove, Hydroslide, Backwoods Paddlesports at Panther Island Rentals, DFW.com, 95.9 The Ranch and Yelp Metro Fort Worth! You are all so amazing and the reason we can continue to produce events like this to help keep Fort Worth funky.

Country music’s Brandon Rhyder has unquestionably established himself as a fixture in the Texas Country/Red Dirt scene. Rhyder has released eight albums and boasts an impressive four #1 singles on the Texas Music Charts, along with an abundance of other milestones. He continues to push boundaries and deliver fresh material, all while maintaining his signature sound that fans have grown to love.

His latest album, That’s Just Me, which is produced by both Rhyder and his longtime guitar player Matt Powell, served as his eighth full-length album over the span of 12 years. Recorded and carefully crafted at The Zone in Dripping Springs, TX, this album includes co-writes from fellow Texan powerhouses and friends Josh Abbott and Wade Bowen. The debut single from the album, “Haggard,” was heavily inspired by Charlie Daniels and Riders in the Sky and is a clear picture into Rhyder’s youth. The song proved to be wildly successful as it scored the #1 position on the Texas Regional Radio Report (TRRR).

The Dirty River Boys are paving their own road as they travel it. They are a proof to the idea that “if you can dream it, you can do it,” moving with purpose ever closer to the light. Above all is their belief in their music. It inspires them and provides exultation for each member, as well as for the audiences who have become fans by the force field the band creates in live performance.

Steely intention aside, there is a magic to being in the right place with the right stuff at the right time. Home in El Paso, the Dirty River Boys longed to make music the centerpiece of their lives. Then they played their very first Austin gig, a happy hour set at hipster hangout, Lustre Pearl. The music they presented was energetic and infectious, though stripped down acoustic. The joy was unmistakable. And a new path with exciting possibilities was being born. The band migrated to Austin shortly thereafter, where they thrive amidst the other musicians in town, and love the strong sense of community they found. “Being in Austin, with so many great bands, it makes you up your game.”

Travis Stearns and Nino Cooper met in the music scene in El Paso. They started performing every once in a while, while they waited for the day they could dedicate themselves to music 24/7. The Dirty River Boys trio formed 3 years ago, when Marco Gutierrez quit his job and school to join the band. “We had to go against full bands in El Paso, us with three people with acoustic instruments. It shows if you are consistent and serious about your music, you can really make it. We put our hearts out there every night. People see that.” They added an upright bass player about a year and a half ago. Colton James joined for a 90 minute set at the River Road Icehouse. It was a trial by fire and a foursome was forged.

The new album, Science Of Flight, was recorded at Yellow Dog Studio in South Austin, Texas. Marco, Nino, Travis and CJ put aside just five days for the process. They played everything on the album themselves, only tapping on the legendary Kim Deschamps to lay down pedal steel. Expect surprises; Wurlitzer, marching drum sounds, train whistles, a rattlesnake. The band was aware of their ability to recreate the sounds on stage in the live environment. The Dirty River Boys are seemingly always on the road, having logged 200,000 miles in the van.

Science of Flight has been described by The Dirty River Boys as Western, Fat, and Rock and Roll. It touches on numerous emotions with gentle harmonies that sparkle with beauty, acoustic rave-ups, and hook driven tunes. “This time, we made a record. We build it, recording the parts ourselves. This is a band record. We are really excited about it.”