Two days of music and camping under the stars

Beanstock-A Special Place

     "I can imagine the shock and excitement when Bob Dylan first plugged in his electric guitar at The Newport Folk Festival. Much has been made of that and how the crowd booed him and were upset that he played an electric instrument at their precious little sensitive folk party. The truth though is that they loved it and when you go back and look at the footage and read interviews from guys like Pete Seeger who was there, that it added a new dimension to an already wonderful festival that was growing with excitement. I can imagine the Kerrville Folk Festival was once growing with excitement too. A time when truly everyone was not only welcome, but encourage to play music, and you could find an artist like David Amram playing along with some college kid who only new cover tunes. That kid was me back in 1996. So, not that long ago the Kerrville Folk Festival was about people, music, community and fun. I still believe deep down those elements are still there and they do raise their heads off and on. Now though those elements of purity are mixed with commercialism, stealing cash money off the festival, arguments and what I like to call folk elitism. But enough with the other festivals.......I want to talk about a festival that is growing with enthusiasm and excitement, a festival that is about charity and not profit, a festival that is about volunteers who are there only because they love the music and the music community and the artists who are there for the same reason. That festival is the Beanstock Festival, held twice a year in October and April right here in North Texas up in Tom Bean, near Van Alstyne and McKinney. This festival is a wonderful mix of folk, country, rock and bluegrass artists who come to play their music in a stripped down beautiful setting on the side of a picturesque hill. God has to be coming to this festival because I always sense a greater presence there. Everyone is a friend and everyone has a place to share their music, whether it be on the main stage, or around a campfire. I have fond memories of my two year old son laying on the stage as we played one year. I have fond memories of Jay Johnson making the entire crowd move up close to the stage so he could see their faces as he played a beautiful acoustic set. I have memories of my band and I playing our hardest rock-n-roll tunes to loud cheers, only to follow it with some of my most quiet, intimate songs. I can still hear the clean guitar sounds of the Mojo Men ringing through the trees, the harmonies of Ken Gaines and crew, the raw, honesty in David Byboth's voice, and the haunting, dark voice of Gordy Quist who sometimes will remind you of Townes Van Zandt. This festival is a musical highlight for my band and I each year. They accept us as is. They don't try and classify my music. They don't try and tell us how to play. They cheer when it's time and listen when it's time and they talk to us as friends before and after our show. Beanstock is growing and you should be a part of that growth. Check out www.beanstock.org and talk to my friend Dan Magers about it. He'll be happy to let you in on a secret that everyone should know!"   -Jayson Bales

"...the music, the forest setting, and the whole gentle, tribal vibe of the place, I think of it often."    -Tom Geddie, Buddy Magazine

"You'll experience not only some artists you're familiar with, but you'll see and discover some new and quite "diverse" talent. An incredible venue with incredible music. This is not Kerrville...it's not that big yet."    -Vince Pawless, Pawless Guitars

Enjoy nature...feed your soul...Experience Beanstock!

Things to Remember!

Camp in designated areas