The Magic of Texas Women’s Voices

Allison Kirk

Music Journalist

The Texas Women’s Songwriters Festival in Lockart kicked off its 2nd year this September (19-21). Founded in 2024 by Mandy Rowden, as a way to bring more awareness to the large group of women songwriters from Texas. The festival consists of luncheons, live song-swap events with 50+ upcoming women writers performing around the Lockhart square, and headliner shows. This festival was a great time and an awesome way to explore the Lockhart area. The song swaps were free to the public, with shows in small shops around the Lockhart square.

For the headliner shows, it was 25$ for each day. There were also vip passes available allowing front row seating to all song swaps, access to all headliners, access to the vip lounge (with complimentary food and drinks), a special Luncheon on Friday, and mariachi brunch held over the weekend. On Friday, the festival kicked off with a luncheon for VIP passers, and many song swap time frames. The song swaps would have 3 women artists paired together taking turns singing their own original work. At many of the events, the artists sang songs together also! With shows in local restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, and even the public library, these swaps went on all day long from 3:30pm to 7:30pm located all around the Lockhart square. With artists like Patti Dixon, Emily Shirley, Sophia Johnson, Rita Bliss, Giulia Millanta, and more.

From 6-8pm, the first headliner came on. Patrice Vonne, a Tex-mex singer from San Antonio, Texas. She blends rock and roll with Spanish style flamenco. With over 20 years in the music business, she has a large following and had a fully sold out show at the blue pearl (Lockhart live music bar).

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From 8-10pm, Betty Soo, the second headliner came on at the Masur Gallery. Soo is a country/folk singer from Austin, Texas. She’s been performing since 2007. Her music pairs beautiful harmonies and authentic lyrics. There was also a free songwriters jam with long-time blues and gospel singers from Austin, Texas, Leanne Athereon and other artists.

The next day, on Saturday, there was another round of song swaps starting at 12:30pm until 7:30pm. With artists like Amethyst Jonquille, Emma James, Emily Shirley, Datura, Mags Baker, and even a special appearance by Mandy Rowden!

These artists spanned from all age groups. It was beautiful seeing the variety of different women all from Texas and all here to spread their music.

From 6-8pm, Patrice Pike, a rhythm/blues singer, with rock influences. Pike emerged from the popular Austin band, Sister 7, and she  performed at the Blue Pearl. And from 8-10pm, singer/songwriter Susan Gibson, an alternative country singer based in Wimberly, Texas, performed at Masur Hall, followed by an open jam for musicians at Blue Pearl. On Sunday, the VIP members were invited to a brunch party sponsored by Terry Blacks BBQ with a mariachi band. The rest of the day from 2-5pm, there was a free women’s songwriter guitar show with many artists from the weekend performing. Overall, it was a great weekend and a great festival. Thank you to Mandy Rowden for creating a space like this for women song-writers and over time I hope this festival will spread more awareness of the women in our state, allow for audience members to explore the beautiful small town of Lockhart, and ultimately walk away feeling the power of women in music.

If you are a Woman Songwriter from Texas and are interested in playing at the Texas Women’s Songwriting Festival next year, you can join the mailing list on the official Texas Women’s songwriting fest website linked here, reach out to Rowden and apply! auditions close on January 1, look for updates on KTSW socials and Texas Women’s Songwriting fest website!