OCT 2-3-4, 2020
MusicFest takes place at the Indian Spring Park Amphitheater, between the Waco Suspension Bridge and Franklin Avenue. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and make yourself comfortable!
View the Waco Cultural Arts Fest schedule & directory.
The Peterson Brothers, proud to be Texas Touring Artist on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster.The Texas Touring Arts Program is designed to ensure that all Texans have the ability to enjoy performances by outstanding Texas-based companies and artists in their own communities. The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) provides grants to help with the costs of bringing in artists for performances.
The Peterson Brothers
combine youthful energy and modern influences with soul, funk, blues & jazz to a create a sound that is uniquely their own. Their live shows feature jam-band style improvisation. Led by Glenn Jr., 21 and Alex, 19, the Peterson Brothers have toured throughout the United States, and had the opportunity to play with and open for the likes of Gary Clark Jr., Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Buddy Guy, the late B.B. King and other musical greats. They have also played festivals throughout the U.S., including the Chicago Blues Festival, Minnesota State Fair, Riverbend Festival, Austin City Limits Festival, Ogden Roots and Blues, King Biscuit Festival, Old Settler’s Music Fest, Kerrville Folk Festival Lancaster Blues & Roots, Allentown Blues, Brews & Barbecue, and many more.
With a standing room only weekly residency at Austin’s famed music hall, The Continental Club, the Peterson Brothers have been referred to as, “The future of Austin music” by Mark Murray of Sun Radio, and “Some of the most talented musicians I have seen come out of Austin” by Jamfeed.
Beto y Los Fairlanes, now more commonly known as Beto and the Fairlanes, is a worldbeat, latin pop, jazz and salsa band from Austin, Texas, founded in the late 1970s by Robert “Beto” Skiles. The band came out of the prolific 1970s Austin music scene. Early in their career, the band played at Austin venues such as the Armadillo World Headquarters, Liberty Lunch, and Soap Creek Saloon. The band released their first album, Midnight Lunch in 1978.
The band is the brainchild of Robert Skiles, a native of San Antonio who has degrees in music from the University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas. Before forming Beto and the Fairlanes, Skiles was, and still is, a prominent jazz pianist in Austin. On the classical side, he played piano for the Austin City Ballet and the University of Texas dance department. He has also written and conducted four major works for orchestra. In 1980 the group performed on the PBS music television program Austin City Limits.
“The name ‘Beto and the Fairlanes?’ was something I just thought up as a fun name for a typical South Texas street band. In time, the name and the music stuck and here we are! What are we doing now? Well, after so many years of playing concerts and recording, we still get together for the same reason we did when we started: simply to have fun! Sure, we still have other projects in the works, but nowadays we have about one gig a month and it’s a family party: band and fans. And it’s fun. That’s what we’re all about!”
Drummer John “Mambo” Treanor, who died of cancer on August 20, 2001 at age 48 was an original member. Treanor also founded the group 47 Times Its Own Weight and was known for his hats and ties made from the fur of roadkill animals.
The band’s sixth album, Conga Dog was released January 6, 2006. Later that same year, the band played a show at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
In the fall of 2012 Beto and the Fairlanes embarked on a 35-day tour in and around Austin Texas as a celebration of their 35th anniversary (playing something somewhere every day, inclusive of shows at Guero’s Taco Bar, Ruta Maya, South Austin Museum of Popular Culture, La Cabana, Antone’s, Continental Club, Reunion Grille, Rattle Inn, Elephant Room, Iguana Grill, and Threadgill’s) – This tour was called the 35 DAZE tour.
Demetrius “D-Soul” Davis, Vocalist
Hailing from Waco, Texas, Demetrius Davis started his musical career at 8 years old when he took to the stage singing in a school play. He knew at that very moment, that music was his passion. This part-time fitness coach and full time musician gained his phenomenal showmanship and, most importantly, vocal training from touring the U.S. singing gospel music with his talented family and time spent in valuable church vocal workshops.
Demetrius has been influenced by the timeless greats from the likes of James Brown and Frank Sinatra to Otis Redding and Michael Jackson. He was also influenced by his talented and beloved father, brother, and grandmother. He has a vast quantity of experience as a vocalist with bands: MatchMaker, Taboo, All U Need, Hotsauce, and his own project, D-Soul Davis Ft. Art Of Soul.
Some of his most well-known musical accomplishments include.. April 6th being recognized in Austin Tx, as “D-Soul Davis Day”. Being an American Idol Top 100 Finalist in 2003. A 2016 SXSW artist Headliner, and an opening act for the AUMF from which he opened up for Maze. He has thrived in the industry and has had the honor of singing alongside Jamie Foxx, Paul Wall, Steve Miller, Ray Benson, Raheem DeVaughn, Gary Jenkins of “Silk”, The Gatlin Brothers, Huey Lewis and The News, Tony Orlando, Alexander O’Neal, Dougie Fresh, Frankie Beverley, and the gospel legend V. Michael Mckay.