In the wake of the deadly July 4 flooding in central Texas, a growing list of artists from the Texas music scene, as well as across country music, have pledged donations, launched campaigns, or arranged benefit concerts. On Wednesday evening, Robert Earl Keen announced on social media that he will host a benefit show, with special guests to be announced, on Aug. 28 at Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, Texas.
So far, Rolling Stone has confirmed Cody Canada, Cross Canadian Ragweed’s frontman, will join Keen on the bill. It’s expected to showcase several other major Texas and country artists at Whitewater, a 5,600-capacity outdoor venue adjacent to the Guadalupe River, 70 miles east of Kerr County — where the town of Kerrville and the nearby Camp Mystic for Girls were the hardest hit in the floods along the same Guadalupe.
“We’re putting it on at Whitewater, because it was big enough, and we looked at a lot of other places, but none of them had the infrastructure that Whitewater has. We wanted to make sure that our musical intent was solid,” says Keen, who discussed the impact of the flooding on the Texas music scene, along his family’s ties to Camp Mystic, with Rolling Stone.
Keen is far from alone in his efforts.
After his Sunday concert at Gruene Hall — which is also next to the Guadalupe River — was canceled, signer-songwriter Josh Weathers turned to a fundraising method he picked up during the height of the pandemic. Weathers called his church, the Heights in Cleburne, Texas, and set up a livestream concert and silent auction. As of Wednesday, Weathers says the event has raised more than $430,000.
“We said yes to a simple idea that we felt God gave us, and people stepped up,” Weathers tells Rolling Stone. “We are working with local authorities in Kerr County to connect directly to families in need, and I was on the phone with the Texas Rangers and local funeral homes yesterday making plans to take care of some things for families down there.”
Editor’s picks
Here’s a list of the artist relief efforts and planned concerts and events benefitting those affected in the Texas floods.
Robert Earl Keen
In addition to his beenfit concert, Keen is also donating all merch sales from his current tour to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. The Arcadia Live Theater in Kerrville, where Keen was scheduled to perform on July 4, is selling Keen’s merch through July 19, with all proceeds going to flood relief.
Whiskey Myers
The country-rock outfit Whiskey Myers are donating online merchandise proceeds to flood relief through the end of the week, and the Texas-based group also announced on social media that they have more efforts in the works.
Hudson Westbrook
Westbrook, who will release his debut album Texas Forever later this month, is directing all proceeds from online merch sales through Monday to flood relief.
Miranda Lambert
Lambert’s MuttNation-Tractor Supply Relief for Rescues Fund is directing all donations to Hill Country animal shelters aimed at helping animals displaced in the floods. Lambert has also partnered with Junk Gypsy to sell a shirt and poster, with proceeds going to flood relief.
Randy Rogers Band
The Texas country stalwarts will donate all merch proceeds from a Saturday show in Concan, Texas, and Midland, Texas.
Treaty Oak Revival
The red-hot band Treaty Oak Revival will donate a portion of merch from their Saturday concert in St. Louis.
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Hooey Brands and Uncle Bekah’s Inappropriate Trucker Hats
Two apparel companies with heavy ties to Texas music — Hooey Brands and Uncle Bekah’s Inappropriate Trucker Hats — are also redirecting proceeds from online sales to flood victims.
Other Efforts
The digital television outlet Texas Music Scene is actively maintaining a list of donation resources local to the Hill Country.
Gruene Grove Bar and Speakeasy in Gruene, Texas, is hosting a Tunes, Trailers & Texas Sized Giving benefit on Friday, July 11, while accepting donations of money and goods.
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The annual Galleywinter Texas River Jam is directing all proceeds from its festival on Sunday, July 13, at the Lone Star Float House in New Braunfels, to flood relief. Organizer Brad Beleher tells Rolling Stone, “We have turned the Sunday portion of Galleywinter River Jam into a full benefit for flood relief. We came together with the artists and all agreed that as we gather mere yards from the very river that caused such destruction that we should and have to do some good. All money, tips and cash collected will be hand delivered by a Kerrville native to the folks at the Kerrville Community Foundation on Monday.”
The Community Foundation for the Texas Hill Country has set up a flood relief fund, and GoFundMe has shared a list of verified relief campaigns.
