The 2nd Annual Bands for Band Festival was held Saturday, July 7 and Yett Park, and was a surprising success. The Festival is a benefit, hosted by the Blanco Band Boosters, to raise funds to support the High School Band program.

“Our long range plan for this festival is to have it grow into an event that people will plan months in advance to attend,” said Band Booster President Libbey Aly.

The music line-up included student musicians from the high school as well as local area singer/songwriters on the side stage and the main stage presented Cameran Nelson and Guardrail Damage Ahead, Bobby Mack, the Hunter Hendrickson Band, Fever in the Funkhouse, Zydeco Blanco and, of course, Edie Brickell and New Bohemians. The musicians did an incredible job of entertaining the crowd and, thanks to Port-O-Cool and Express Care, the guests of the festival were kept cool under the covered pavilion with strategically placed water cooling fans.

Changes from last year’s event were the additional of craft vendors and food vendors – lending more “festival” type atmosphere to the event.

The band boosters have set a tentative date for the next festival of April 27, 2013. Pending review of other events that might conflict locally, the date will be confirmed as soon as possible.

“We really feel that with a date set very far in advance, we will have more luck with folks making Blanco a part of their Spring plans,” said Libbey Aly.

The event’s corporate sponsors were Express Care, Town and Country Cleaners, the Mike Barnes Group, I.E.S.I., Blanco Inn and Suites, Stripes, Lowe’s.