Bands and Booths for Trans Youth

By Hannah Walls
Music Journalist

I attended Bands and Booths for Trans Youth this past weekend, hosted by Ava Productions and Studio San Martian. I had previously attended Vaginafest, which also featured a variety of local artists and vendors, so I was super excited to see what was in store for this event.

The event was held to raise money for trans youths in Texas and was held at Red Bus Food Park, which I hadn’t been to before. I loved how chill it was, and any show where I can grab a bite to eat and enjoy live music from a shady picnic table is already a winner in my book.

Earlier in the day, Grace Livingston, Vance Loggins and Magnus Timbre performed, followed by Elephant Ears, Window Shop, Kenny Normal and Maddie & the Deadnames later in the evening.

This event was the first opportunity I had to see Elephant Ears, and the experience definitely spurred a new obsession for me. I loved their sound, and am definitely looking forward to seeing a lot more of them. The four-member group combined a lot of classic rock elements with some reggae elements, and had a lot of interaction with the audience. Their set was perfect for the warm and sunny evening.

After Elephant Ears, five-member band Window Shop took the stage. Window Shop is one of my personal favorite local bands, so I always enjoy getting the chance to see them. Their lively mix of rock and funk got quite a few people up to dance and move closer to the stage, especially as more show-goers trickled in for the evening.

In between sets, I took the opportunity to check out some of the local vendors. I love events that give local artists and creators a chance to shine as well, and picked up a lovely pair of earrings from the Absinthe Garden before Kenny Normal’s set.

Kenny Normal put on a great show as usual. As a saxophone player myself, I have a soft spot for their funky tunes and love that they play covers pretty often as well. This group has such a unique sound that I always find myself amazed by the eclectic mix of genres and sounds, and the crowd definitely stayed energized throughout as well.

The final performance of the night was Maddie & the Deadnames, another group that I got to experience seeing for the first time. Their vocalist has such a powerful voice, and the group boasted a really cool mix of some rock and punk elements. I found myself getting up to dance with the rest of the audience for this last set, and the energy of this band was a great finish to the night.

I really enjoyed getting a chance to see a few local artists that were new to me in addition to a few of my personal favorites. Be sure to Studio San Martian and Ava Productions on Instagram to keep up with more upcoming events, and swing by to support local bands and artists next time you get the chance!

Featured Image by Hannah Walls