Live music events reappear, Kalahari Resorts to host entertainment festival

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock kicks off an outdoor music and entertainment festival on Friday. It will kick off the opening of the resort’s outdoor entertainment space.

The three-day festival is free and open to the public. In addition to a farmers’ market, summer fashion show and tours of Kalahari characters, three live bands will perform at the event.

The Watters are among the few artists.

“We’ve been making music together for about 12 years,” said Jenna Watters.

The Watters is a husband and wife duo from the Austin area. When they are not playing together, they form a group of seven musicians. A COVID-19 world of music seemed different to them. Zoom and neighborhood lawn gigs are how they have adapted.

“The past year has actually been pretty busy for us,” Watters said. “We just have to adapt and do what we can. ”

Many Austin area musicians have been hit hard by the concert hall closures. The Blenders, which is an acoustic duo, has seen a significant drop in gigs.

“We usually do about 30 shows a year, and we did four last year,” David Dyke said with The Blenders.

Both The Blenders and The Watters will be performing in the Kalahari Outer Space this weekend.

The Kalahari said the event capped at 600 people. Guests should also follow the Town of Round Rock Mask Mandate.

“Kalahari Resorts and Conventions invites its guests, along with the Round Rock and Austin community to Spring Fest this weekend as we celebrate the opening of Amatuli, our outdoor entertainment space. As we all welcome to Spring Fest, the health and safety of all our visitors remains our priority ”, Kalahari wrote in a statement to KXAN.

“It’s a really nice outdoor space so everyone can take their distance,” Dyke said.

Watters said the majority of the spaces it is reserved for are outdoor spaces.

“There’s not much going on inside right now,” Watters said.

Places like Elephant Room, a popular jazz club, are still in the dark from COVID-19.

“Things are coming back, but it’s not 40 gigs a day, I’ll tell you,” said Michael Mordecai.

Mordecai helps book concerts both at the Elephant Room and other venues around town. Before the coronavirus, 40 concerts a day were the norm.

“I know we can get musicians to play there, but I don’t know if anyone is going to get sick,” Mordecai said.

Watters said things are always improving for the music industry.

“Inquiries are pouring in. Everyone is ready for the music, it seems,” Watters said.

The open-air festival in the Kalahari will begin on Friday March 26 at 6 p.m. and continue through Sunday March 28.