music
Leon, Leon Bridges
October 4th
The Fort Worth native’s previous solo album, 2021’s Gold-Diggers Sound, captured the R&B energy inspired by the retro Hollywood hotel where the album was recorded. His new project is a self-portrait that reflects his Texas roots, even though the 13 tracks were recorded in Mexico City and Nashville. But judging by the track “Peaceful Place,” which blends Latin and West African vibes, Leon’s sonic origins may lie in Bridges’ globetrotting Houston EPs “Texas Sun” and “Texas Moon” with genre-bending band Khruangbin. Wherever he’s making music, his pristine sound evokes nostalgia for a place, or a feeling, he loves. As he sings on “Peaceful Place,” “No matter where I go, I feel like I’m home.”
Festival
Oktoberfest, Fredericksburg
October 4-6
German immigrants (and their traditions) arrived in Texas in the 1830s. Today, more than two million Texans claim German ancestry, and annual celebrations of Bavarian culture are held throughout the state. But the Hill Country’s epicenter of old-world charm might be the best place to enjoy beer, sausages, lederhosen, and Oktoberfest polka dancing.
Books
Ballroom Marfa: The First 20 Years, by Virginia Leberman and Fairfax Doane, with Vance Knowles
Phaidon, October 29th
When Dorn and Leberman visited in the early 2000s, Marfa was on its way to becoming a place of creative expression. They saw a former auto shop and envisioned a venue for arts and performance. Ballroom Marfa opened a year later. Over the course of two decades, the space has come to symbolize the transformation of the West Texas town. This anthology features photographs and commentary from iconic artists such as Terry Allen and Mel Chin.
Festival
Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards
Marshall, October 3-5
About two dozen country artists from four continents will descend on the East Texas town to compete in categories including best male vocalist, best female vocalist and best Texas balladeer. Over the past 12 years, artists from such unlikely places as Iceland and Eswatini have performed Texas country in the region that produced George Jones and Lee Ann Womack.
This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Texas Monthly. Subscribe now.
Image credits: Downtown Fort Worth: Getty; Fort Worth skyline: Barbara Alper/Getty; Leon: Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty; Jack Bool
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