Larry Joe Taylor Fest Announces Full 2016 Lineup
The biggest festival in the country that you’ve never heard of (unless you’re from Texas) has announced the full lineup for their 2016 season. It includes a lot of the familiar names of the Texas and Red Dirt side of country music that you would expect to see like the Turnpike Troubadours, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Wade Bowen, the Randy Rogers Band, and William Clark Green, and a few interesting wild cards like The Black Lillies and Aubrie Sellers.
Scheduled to take place this year between April 18th to the 23rd, the Larry Joe Taylor Festival will welcome an estimated 50,000 people through the gates over 6 days, and feature music on three stages from over 50 bands at the Melody Mountain Ranch in Stephenville, TX. One of the biggest and oldest music festivals in the country, Larry Joe Taylor Fest has been going on for over a quarter century.
READ: The 50,000-Head Music Festival You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Larry Joe Taylor took up singing and songwriting after being injured in the rodeo, and wrote some songs with Texas singer-songwriter Gary P. Nunn. The first Larry Joe Taylor festival held in Meridian, TX only drew 100 people, but over the years the event has continued to grow due to the strength of the Texas music scene.
Larry Joe Taylor Festival 2016 Lineup
Monday, April 18th
- Randy Brown
- Gary P. Nunn
Tuesday, April 19th
Bud Light Stage
- Dolly Shine
- Josh Weathers
- Six Market Blvd.
- Stoney LaRue
Wednesday, April 20th
Allsup’s Stage
- T-Bird’s Songwriter Winner
- Chuck Pyle Tribute
- The Black Lillies
- Zane Williams
- Radney Foster
Bud Light Stage
- Sam Riggs
- American Aquarium
- Kyle Park
- Jason Boland & the Stragglers
- Turnpike Troubadours
Thursday, April 21st
Allsup’s Stage
- Richard Leigh
- Michael Hearne
- Sister C
- Cooder Graw
- The Last Bandoleros
- Brandon Rhyder
Bud Light Stage
- Parker McCollum
- Mike Ryan
- Casey Donahew Band
- Wade Bowen
- Randy Rogers Band
Friday, April 22nd
Allsup’s Stage
- Keith Sykes
- Walt Wilkins
- Mike McClure Band
- Max Stalling
- Shane Smith & the Saints
- Ray Wylie Hubbard
Bud Light Stage
- Mark McKinney
- Bart Crow
- William Clark Green
- Kevin Fowler
- Josh Abbott Band
Saturday, April 23rd
Allsup’s Stage
- Luke Wade
- Aubrie Sellers
- Davin James
- Tejas Brothers
Bud Light Stage
- Charla Corn
- Prophets and Outlaws
- Deryl Dodd
- Cody Canada & the Departed
- Reckless Kelly
- Roger Creager
- Larry Joe Taylor
Zing Zang Stage
- Thom Shepherd & Coley McCabe (19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd)
- Coalition (21st)
- Tommy Alverson (22nd)
- Randy Brown (23rd)
- Dalton Domino (23rd)
LJT Fest 2016 Official LineupHappy Birthday TEXAS!
Posted by Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival on Wednesday, March 2, 2016
March 2, 2016 @ 8:15 pm
That’s a helluva line up!
March 2, 2016 @ 8:27 pm
Hands down one of the best times you will have. It’s 50k people that love music and love having fun.
From the small stage, to the big stage, to the camp fire picken parties, LJT Fest is as good as it gets.
March 2, 2016 @ 9:29 pm
One day I’m going to time a trip to the US to catch this festival!
March 3, 2016 @ 9:46 am
+1, good post Trigg!
March 3, 2016 @ 11:11 am
This is on my bucket list for right after I retire. Hope they are still going 18 years from now.
March 3, 2016 @ 1:44 pm
Went last year for the first time. It’s extremely well-run. We’re going again this year. Majority are Texas area folks, but it’s worth flying in for. Hour and a half from the Dallas airport. Come see us!
March 3, 2016 @ 2:18 pm
Every year they announce an awesome lineup. Every year I question why I don’t live near Texas.
March 3, 2016 @ 9:32 pm
Impressive lineup unless you want to see women artists
March 3, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
This has always been a challenge for Texas country and remains an issue, though I’m not sure if it’s fair to blame the promoters. There’s just not a lot of female performers in that realm. Nonetheless, efforts should be made to be more inclusive.
March 8, 2016 @ 8:05 am
I could not agree less. That comment is just like the lack of diversity at the Academy Awards PC BS. I you want to see female artists perform, then find out where they are playing and make a trip, buy their swag, and enjoy their music. Even in the small bars that bring in Texas/Red Dirt artists, you rarely see a female artist as the main act. People rarely stick around to see an entire show when a female artist is playing. Most (not all) female acts just do not have the energy that the guys do. LJT is about providing a great atmosphere to see some of the most popular Texas/Red Dirt bands as well as the up and coming bands.
There are definitely some bands that don’t fit the mold, like Josh Weathers, The Black Lilies, and American Aquarium, but they do fit LJT Fest. LJT is one helluva good time and it is about good music and fellowship; this festival is not about providing the most diverse music.
March 8, 2016 @ 10:27 am
Wow one-time, I think you’re taking a polite suggestion as a personal attack on LJT, and that was not how it was offered at all. From all accounts, LJT does a great job. But when you have two female headliners out of 50+ bands, maybe you should ask yourself if you’re missing something. That’s all I was saying. I do think festivals and organizations should work to be more inclusive. I think LJT did that by inviting Aubrie Sellers. But heck, how about a simple 1/10 ratio? Again, not asking for quotas, just a suggestion. There are tons of great female artists out there that would fit with LJT. The Quebe Sisters, Lee Ann Womack, Brennen Leigh, etc.