Music Festival encapsulates community and Americana spirit

Launched in 2020 by songwriter Dustin Brown, the “In A Jam Down By The River” music festival celebrates songwriters, nature and community. It continues to run each year, with Brown hoping to promote the essence of authentic Americana music and camaraderie.

This year’s festival will take place from Oct. 17 to Oct. 20 at the Mountain Breeze Campground in New Braunfels. While the festival is known for showcasing emerging artists, it will also feature several well-known performers, including John Fullbright, The Deslondes and Casper Allen.

Festival manager Alyssa Dunaway reflected on her experience selling taxidermy at previous festivals and the sense of peace it brings. The festival includes an art market where vendors sell art pieces, taxidermy, jewelry and more. She expressed how not only is it a festival for discovering new artists, but finding your people too.

“Nobody is a stranger at the festival,” Dunaway said. “Everyone’s getting along really well, even if you don’t know anyone, you show up by yourself, you’ll leave with friends.”

Dustin Brown, who began making music at a young age, shared how music impacted his life with his community. After noting the challenges faced by struggling artists during COVID-19, he gathered his musician friends to create “In A Jam Down By The River,” as a space for emerging artists and building a community centered around music.

“You’re going to come and discover somebody new. They’re really, really good, and just haven’t gotten over that hump or out from under that rock. You’ll leave with somebody new to listen to or become a new fan of somebody,” Brown said.

Brown and his team expressed how they built the festival from the ground up, aiming to embody the values of hard work and passion Brown experienced in childhood. In addition, he said his songwriting often reflects the struggles of life and his journey to success.

“I wasn’t raised in wealth; I came from a working-class family,” Brown said. “Observing the world and my feelings about relationships and friendships heavily influences my songwriting. We literally built the stages and everything at the festival, and when you finally perform, you realize, ‘We did all of this.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

Another songwriter who helped kick start the festival is Billy Hartman. Hartman shares a passion for songwriting like that of Brown, but views music as more of a therapeutic method for coping with depression and a way to connect with others.

“Maybe, as a man, it’s easier to sit down with a guitar and express feelings through song rather than talking about them,” Hartman said. “The best part is when someone approaches me and says, ‘That song meant a lot to me. I’ve been in that situation before.’ Writing something raw and real, something that feels like ‘cutting your wrist and letting it bleed,’ then performing it for others, creates a powerful connection.”

To Hartman and Brown, the community they created at the festival cultivates a sense of belonging and embodies the Americana spirit. They say in difficult times, there’s always support to lean on, reinforcing the idea: music unites people.

“Just being able to sit in the water, enjoy the music and feel that easy-going vibe is one of my favorite moments,” Dunaway said. “At night, you get to hang out with the artists around the campfire. It’s such a personal experience with them. It’s Americana.”

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