Meet the Music Makers

Live Music By:
Andrea Dawson - The Sassy Soulstress of Blues with Devan Jones and the Uptown Stomp

The Eastside Kings featuring three special headliners
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Our Deejays:
Laney Barhaugh | Olivia Hillmer | Chris Wolfesmith
​Grace Jones-Taylor | ​Jeramy 'Remy' Garner | Julie Brown

Austin's Finest Blues Bands

Friday Night: Andrea Dawson
10pm to 1am

Local superstar, Andrea Dawson, serves up vegetarian soul food and soulful blues in hearty portions here in Austin. When she's not serving up hot and fresh food from her food truck (Sassy's Vegetarian Soul Food) in Austin's historic Eastside she can be found in some of the clubs in the area putting on a show where her love of Jazz and Blues greats like Etta James shines through with a sound that is distinctly Blues. Much like the food she serves up from her food truck her music is warm, friendly, and satisfying in a way that's both familiar and exciting.

This year she'll be backed up by Devan Jones, an Austin transplant turned dancer favorite. He and his band, the Uptown Stomp, have a sound reminiscent of the Blues and Rhythm & Blues artists of the Chess Records Era such as Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Guitar Slim, T-Bone Walker & Billy Boy Arnold.
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Saturday Night: The Eastside Kings
10pm to 1am

The Live Music Capital of the World has long been home to some of the best blues musicians thanks in no small part to local haunts like Antone's and T.C. Lounge and the members of the Eastside Kings have been rocking these places along side famous names for decades. These powerhouses of blues will ply their trade as the house-band for our Saturday Night dance as three different local legends take the stage each hour to give you a once in a life time blues jam that could only happen in Austin, Texas.

​Years past have featured the likes of Orange Jefferson, Birdlegg, Brown Sugar, and Ms. Mack!

Our Rockin' Deejays

Laney Barhaugh
Minneapolis, MN

As is often the case in small scenes, Laney started DJing out of necessity – somebody had to play some music! Since then, she has come to greatly enjoy the process of acquiring, vetting, and playing music for blues dancers. She loves playing a wide variety of styles, from sweet jazz-blues to gritty juke joint tunes to soul-influenced ballads, and she has a soft spot for any song that brings the party. She has DJed extensively in her home scene of Minneapolis, as well as at Steel City Blues, Sweet Molasses Blues, Red Hot BBQ & Blues, CUBE, Nocturne Blues & Sweet Molasses Blues.

Olivia Hillmer
Austin, TX

Whether you're looking for all-out booty-shakin' dance-off, a close and quiet sway, or just a solid soundtrack for focused (but still groovin') spreadsheet editing, Olivia has your blues needs covered. She keeps the music inspired so your dances follow suit, often drawing on musicians and styles connected to her hometown, Austin TX. Olivia has DJed everything from small house parties to national events in Austin and New England. 

Chris Wolfesmith
Austin, TX

Chris is a self-proclaimed man-of-many-talents, and is considered (mostly by himself) to be something of an expert in most things he engages in. Playing blues music for dancers is no exception. This weekend, he'll be bringing you what he assumes you'll undoubtedly think is the best blues around (if he does say so himself; which he does, at length, don't get him started). We (management) sincerely hope you enjoy the show; he really is almost as good as he says he is. Of course, don't tell him we told you that, because we'll deny everything.

Grace Jones-Taylor
Austin, TX
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Best compliment you can give Grace when she’s deejaying? High five her as you excitedly make your way onto the dance floor, then never leave. Grace’s primary goal as a deejay is to keep the dance floor full and the dancers inspired and energized throughout the night - whether it’s an exchange, a house party, or a wedding.

Grace has spun across Texas as well as in California, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota. While Grace is all about bringing the party, she’s also an enabler of those late-night cuddle dances most of us love so much. She’s got a serious thing for modern and local blues artists, rhythms that take you along for the ride, and any music that just won’t let you sit down. Find out more at www.gracedances.com.

Jeramy ‘Remy’ Garner
Austin, TX

Equal parts Macgyver and Martha Stewart, Remy is often cooking, creating, and saving the day with whatever's nearby. Otherwise they're listening to blues music like it's a full-time job. This home-grown, locally-sourced, free-ranged DJ has a passion for local Texas Blues you just can’t find anywhere else. ​

With an audio arsenal of deep tracks in every sub-genre and ever-growing stacks of actual CDs from local musicians, Remy strives to make sure dancers get just what they never knew they needed.

​Julie Brown
Boston, MA

From acoustic to electric, horns to harmonica, New York to West Coast, Julie digs all the blueses. She has DJed around the country at bluesSHOUT, Blues Muse, Mile High Blues, Bambloozled, and more. She also DJs regularly in Boston, where she lives, dances, works, and occasionally sleeps.