Texas Blues

Texas Blues is a style of blues music that’s got that special Lone Star flair. Think traditional blues but with a Texas twist, from soulful acoustic sounds to rockin’ electric riffs.

Table of Contents

The Roots

This story starts across the border in Louisiana and Mississippi. The Delta gave birth to the blues, but when those soulful sounds crossed the Sabine River, they took on a new life. Texas Blues drew on regional influences, including country and Mexican music, to create a unique blues subgenre.

The Sound

Texas Blues ain’t just one thing. It’s as varied as the Texas landscape itself. You’ve got your slow, cryin’ guitar solos, and then you’ve got your up-tempo, foot-stompin’ shuffles. Sometimes you’ll hear a harmonica, and even the accordion in some substyles. Whether it’s acoustic or electric, each instrument brings its own Texas-sized character to the mix.

The Cities: Austin, Dallas, Houston

Each of these Texan metropolises has its own flavor of the blues.

Austin’s got that laid-back, live-music-every-night vibe.

Dallas brings in a touch of jazz and swing.

Houston? That’s where the Gulf Coast influence seeps in.

The Legends

Names like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and T-Bone Walker – these are the pioneers, the OGs of Texas Blues. Fast forward a bit, and you’ve got Stevie Ray Vaughan takin’ up the torch.

The Festivals

If you’re lookin’ to soak in some authentic Texas Blues, best mark your calendar for the yearly shindigs like the Dallas International Guitar Festival or the Big Blues Bender in Texas.

Record Labels

Texas Blues mighta stayed a local gem if it weren’t for labels like Arhoolie Records that captured that Lone Star sound and shared it with the world.