TCMC Blog
Meet the Master Cruise Counselor of Texas - Cynthia Chubick!
In 2018, an estimated 27.2 million people went on a cruise globally, and demand for cruises increased by 20.5 percent in the five years leading up to 2018.
Whether in pursuit of the perfect getaway or a little pampering, people take cruises for myriad reasons. One of the best things about a cruise? Surrounding yourself with likeminded people and the things you love most in a paradisiacal setting.
From the mainstream to the unique, there's a cruise for just about every interest, including golf, cooking, and yoga. There are even poker cruises and ones for fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For the best entertainment, delicious eats, and luxurious experiences at sea, nothing beats the Texas Country Music Cruise. At the helm of your dream vacation is Cynthia Tevis.
Read on to find out more about Cynthia, the cruise team, and what you can expect during the ultimate country music travel experience.
Steering the Texas Country Music Cruise
While Cynthia may not navigate the actual ship, she does steer every part of your journey while on the Texas Country Music Cruise. As founder of the experience, it represents the manifestation of her two great passions: cruising and country.
More specifically, she's in love with Texas country music, and this shines through in every detail of the cruise, from the list of Texas country artists to the delectable cuisine and luxurious amenities.
Cynthia holds a Bachelors of Science from the University of Colorado with dual majors in International Business and Marketing.
Since graduating, she's worked tirelessly to build one of the top full-service travel agencies in the US, Luxx Vacations. She's also devoted herself to the Texas Country Music Cruise, creating a musical getaway like none other.
In 2018, she was awarded Royal Caribbean Travel Agent of the Year. This award was given to Cynthia to acknowledge her incomparable knowledge of the industry. It also attests to the high level of service she provides to each of her customers.
The Texas Country Music Cruise
To better understand Cynthia's high level of commitment to providing customers with the cruise of their dreams, let's take a behind-the-scenes look at the cruise and all of its fabulous amenities.
One of the defining features of the Texas Country Music Cruise? Cynthia's unerring attention to detail. Simply put, she and her team have spared no expense when it comes to shaping this bespoke getaway for country music fans.
Cruise-goers will enjoy traveling on the newly renovated Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas. As a member of the innovative Freedom class of ships, the Liberty of the Seas comes with plenty of entertainment.
Besides being jam-packed with Texas country music, kids and adults alike will fall for the DreamWorks Experience featuring your favorite animated characters including Shrek. There's also the Broadway hit musical Saturday Night Fever.
Spend an evening poolside under the stars watching a first-run movie. Or, enjoy the 3D theater. There's also a well-appointed wine bar for adults-only entertainment.
And for the family? There's a rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, FlowRider surf simulator, cantilevered whirlpools, Royal Promenade, mini-golf course, water slides, and much more.
Cynthia and her team have assembled a decadent cruise package. And we haven't even gotten to the best part yet--the list of Texas country artists you can expect to see during your vacation.
The Best of Country Music Travel
With a love of Texas country music that's as big as the state itself, nobody understands the Texas Country Music Cruise better than Cynthia. She knows it's a hankering for country music that's brought you onboard.
And she's organized a lineup sure to satisfy. From top names like Pat Green and Bart Crow to Bri Bagwell and Randall King, get ready to hear all of your favorite show-stopping hits while sailing the high seas.
What does Cynthia love about each of these performers? She has plenty to say when it comes to great Texas country music and why you'll love this year's lineup.
Pat Green will be headlining the cruise leaving Galveston on September 29th. He's recorded 10 studio albums, and 15 of his singles have topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts including "Wave on Wave" whose album went gold.
Headlining the cruise finale will be none other than Bart Crow, and Cynthia couldn't be more excited.
Bart hails from Austin, the hub of all Red Dirt and Texas country music, and credits Gram Parsons, The Beatles, and Elvis as his major musical influences.
After years of touring with his band, this blue-collar balladeer has chiseled a solid foothold in the edifice of Americana music.
His hits include "Wear My Ring" with more than 165,000 copies sold. His album Dandelion hit No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers South Central chart.
More Artists to Satisfy Your Country Cravings
Besides theses headliners, Cynthia knows you're going to fall in love with some of the rising stars on the cruise. Two of these breakout artists are Bri Bagwell and Randall King.
Bri Bagwell has been chasing her country music dreams since the age of 14 when she started singing in her twin brother's band. She's come a long way in 15 years as evidenced by her latest album In My Defense.
Songs such as "Asphalt & Concrete" and "If You Were a Cowboy" are set to haunting, echoey guitars that amplify her soaring vocals. What's more, she's a powerhouse on stage, both flirting with and embodying her carefully crafted lyrics.
To satisfy your craving for honest Southern music, Cynthia says look no further than Randall King. Raised on the soulful, rich stylings of country legends like Alan Jackson, Keith Whitley, and George Strait, they shine through in his honest songs.
But the list of Texas country artists doesn't stop there. From the Dirty River Boys to Glen Templeton and so many more, get ready for the musical adventure of a lifetime. Check out the full Red Dirt music lineup.
The Texas Country Music Cruise Team Difference
Cynthia and the Texas Country Music Cruise team have pulled out all the stops when it comes to bringing you the best Texas country artists list all in one spot.
Are you ready to savor the best of today's music while visiting picturesque destinations like Cozumel and Costa Maya? Then, what are you waiting for?
Contact us today to learn more about the Texas Country Music Cruise. Then, get ready for seven days and nights of the best music and fun in the Gulf with Master Cruise Counselor and Group Cruise Specialist Cynthia and her team.
Are You Ready?
5 Things You Should Know About the Texas Country Music Cruise
Are you ready to experience the best Texas country cruise of your life? Read on to learn 5 things you should know about the Texas Country Music Cruise.
Did you know that there were an estimated 314 ocean cruise ships by the end of 2018?
Increasingly, people are booking cruise holidays because they get to experience multiple locations, all whilst enjoying the luxury and divine comforts of a cruise ship.
If you are thinking about going on a cruise vacation, here is everything you need to know about the popular Texas Country Music Cruise.
Texas Country Music Cruise
Onboard the M.S. Liberty of the Seas, you will find a perfect place to lay back and relax, whilst taking part in a phenomenal Texas Country Music Cruise. You might have been on a cruise before, but you will never have been on one quite like this.
For those of you who love Texas Country Music, traveling to exotic destinations, and relaxing with your friends and family, this Texas music cruise is for you.
According to Statista, 56% of U.S. travelers stated that they hadn't been on a cruise in the last 5 years. So, for those of you who have never been on a cruise before, or if it has been a while since your last cruise, here is what you can expect on our country western cruises.
1. Incredible Artist Lineup
The first thing that you need to know about the Texas Country Music Cruise is that it has an incredible artist lineup. Some of the most talented artists and musicians have signed up to this year's cruise, to bring you the very best Texas country music has to offer.
Big names include Pat Green, Bart Crow, Bri Bagwell, Randall King, Dirty River Boys, Flatland Calvary, Glen Templeton, Jason Cassidy, Tanner Sparks, Zach Nytomt, Issac Jacob, Darren Morris, and Tyler Stokes.
You can enjoy various lineups with the singers for a total of 5 out of 7 of the days of the cruise. (The only 2 days where the music won't be playing is when you are off the ship and exploring Roatan and Cozumel.) Texas country music cruises don't get any better than this!
2. Amazing Accommodation
Onboard our Texas country music cruise, you'll get to choose the accommodation that suits you and your budget.
There's a range of bedrooms and views available at different prices, starting from our basic accommodation with an inside room for $764, right through to our suite accommodation types.
Due to their popularity, all suites except the Junior Suite have sold out. So if you want to secure your Junior Suite, you need to do so as soon as possible.
All rooms are homely and offer spacious accommodation, which is ideal for getting a good night's sleep after all the excitement of the day.
3. Breathtaking Destinations
Most notably, this Texas country music cruise combines incredible music with stunning destinations.
The cruise sets sail from Galveston in Texas, you will then spend the next two days soaking up our cruise's culture, enjoying our onboard entertainment, and listening to excellent live music.
Our first port of call is Roatan in Honduras. This beautiful Caribbean island is the perfect place to unwind and relax on the perfect sandy beaches. For the more adventurous kind, you can enjoy an abundance of water activities, such as scuba diving or snorkeling.
The next day, the cruise arrives at Costa Maya, in Mexico. Here you can spend your days enjoying the stunning coastline of Mexico's eastern Yucatán Peninsula. Alternatively, you could spend your day exploring the coral reefs. Or exploring close-by reserves, which are home to sharks, dolphins, turtles, jaguars, monkeys, and hundreds of different bird species.
Our final port of call, before heading back to Galveston, will be Cozumel in Mexico. This breathtaking Caribbean island is known for its scuba diving. If you don't feel like scuba diving, why not kick back on the beach with a cocktail? Or there is always Chankanaab, an eco-park surrounding a lagoon with underwater caverns, which are home to dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles.
After enjoying all three Caribbean locations, there will be another full day cruising and on the 7th day, we will arrive back into Galveston.
4. Passionate Team Members
Texas Country Music Cruises are brought to you by a team of passionate people, who want to ensure that you have the very best experience. Our award-winning founder, Cynthia Tevis, has a vast knowledge of both cruise ships and Texas country music, to bring you the best service in the industry. Cynthia was awarded the 2018 Royal Caribbean Travel Agent of the Year and has numerous qualifications. The other team members and onboard staff are all very passionate and there to ensure that you enjoy your time on the ship. Music Director Eric Lenington was active as a bassist in the scene for 14 years, traveling with Kyle Park, Doug Moreland, Ryan James, and Peter Dawson. His ground level knowledge of the music and personalities of the Texas Country Music Scene brings you the best performances you can find anywhere.
5. Onboard Entertainment For All
M.S. Liberty of the Seas has recently been renovated, to bring you the best onboard essentials and luxuries. In addition to all the entertainment that TCMC brings aboard, you will have access to all the ship has to offer- musicals in the theater, karaoke in the On-Air Club, shopping or watch a movie by the pool, under the stars on the outdoor movie screen.
Liberty of the Seas also has an intimate Vintage wine bar, where you can sit back and enjoy a beverage or two.
And don't forget about all the revolutionary features Liberty of the Seas is known for, such as the FlowRider® surf simulator, rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, Royal Promenade, cantilevered whirlpools, mini-golf course, and much more.
The Cruise of a Lifetime
Texas Country Music Cruise is something that everyone will love because it has something for all. Even if your family doesn't like Texas country music as much as you, we can still guarantee that you will all have an incredible vacation.
To find out more information about the Texas country music cruise or if you have any questions, contact our team now.
Randall King joins the 2019 Texas Country Music Cruise!
We are so proud to announce that Randall King will be on the Texas Country Music Cruise, leaving Galveston Sept 29th on board the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas!
Humble beginnings, a cultivated work ethic and the influences of classic country legends, synchronized together in perfect harmony, make up singer-songwriter from the West Texas Plains, Randall King.
Growing up a fourth generation hay-hauler, many of King’s songs are written and inspired by his deep southern heritage and family roots.
King was raised listening to the rich and soulful, classic country voices of Keith Whitley, George Strait and Alan Jackson, to name a few, which helped create King’s musical style into what many have described as neo-traditional country. “Randall King remains to the heart and soul of country music, but no doubt brings his own unique brand to the genre,” says hit songwriter Mark Nesler (co-writer of “Just To See You Smile” by Tim McGraw, “You Look Good In My Shirt” by Keith Urban).
With a sound rooted in tradition and songwriting that showcases honesty, conviction and authenticity, King connects with fans on all emotional levels. “Randall King has a great voice that sounds classic, yet is fresh and as a songwriter he actually has something to say – be it something that touches your heart or something simple and fun that makes you wanna get out and raise some hell.” said multi-award-winning and critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Anthony Smith (co-writer of “Run” & “Cowboys Like Us” by George Strait).
Unlike the west Texas wind, King is a grounded and talented singer-songwriter who is sure to stay. “There’s a lot of people that want country music to come back around, and there’s a lot of people that will say you have to sell out and play radio hits to make it. I think for me I want to make my stamp as an artist with this record, that I can be me and still make an impact across the country.
Bri Bagwell on the 2019 Texas Country Music Cruise!
We will have the great Bri Bagwell on the Texas Country Music Cruise, leaving Galveston Sept 29th on board the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas!
Here's what she had to say about her latest album, "In My Defense": “I am so proud of the record we have created, no matter how cliche that sounds. I have put everything I have, and every dollar to my name creating this record for myself and my fans. I truly believe it is the best record I have ever released, and the pressure I felt to create something great pushed me to the max. I embraced it. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.” With songs like “Cheat on Me,” (a co write with Courtney Patton), “Graffiti,” “Ring a Bell” (co write with Jody Booth), and “I Can’t Be Lonely,” each song takes on a autobiographical life of its own, but comes together in a cohesive image of the woman that sings them. “Rachel and I spent countless hours, concentrating and obsessing over every lyric, every melody… we tore apart and reconstructed anything necessary to make sure everything was exactly what the song truly needed. I think you can feel the work we put in when you listen to it.”
Pat Green to headline the 2019 Texas Country Music Cruise!
We are so proud to announce that Pat Green will be headlining the Texas Country Music Cruise, leaving Galveston Sept 29th on board the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas!
Pat had this to say to CMT on performing: "I feel like as a musician, you get the energy off of watching the crowd react to you. When you stand in front of a crowd and they’re screaming at you and they’re singing the words … for whatever reason, those words connect with them, and they feel that they have to scream at the top of their lungs. It’s such a thrill. It’s a feeding frenzy. You’re feeding them and they’re feeding you, and it just keeps on growing and growing and growing until the last song."
Pat has recorded a total of ten studio albums, including several independent works, three for Republic Records and two for BNA. Fifteen of his singles have charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, of which the highest-peaking is the #3 "Wave on Wave" from his gold-certified album of the same name. He will be performing with his full band in Studio B.
Flatland Cavalry on the 2019 Texas Country Music Cruise!
We are very excited to announce that Flatland Cavalry will be joining us for the 2019 cruise! These fellas are on fire right now, and have been touring relentlessly across Texas and beyond.
Formed in the fall of 2012, the quintet was rounded up by Cordero after stretches of acoustic outings around the Panhandle town of Lubbock. With guitarist Reid Dillon, fiddler Laura Jane, bassist Jonathan Saenz, and drummer Jason Albers joining Cordero, Flatland quickly garnered the attention of the masses with the release of the debut EP, Come May, in the spring of 2015. Building off the success of Come May, Cordero and company released their full-length follow-up, Humble Folks, in April 2016.
From their website: "At some point between Lubbock and Midland, the land shifts from endless cotton rows and rich farmland into pump jacks and mesquite tree filled pastures. Lubbock roots-country outfit Flatland Cavalry straddles that line between the Panhandle and the badlands of West Texas with their bright, earthy country ballads and gritty folk ramblers. Vocalist and chief songwriter Cleto Cordero’s honest, smooth songwriting revolves around the vernacular world of West Texas that he’s constructed with dusty, sun-soaked character sketches, brooding self-evaluations, and candid love songs that all have the ability to turn into singalong anthems."
Brandon Rhyder Joins the 2018 Texas Country Music Cruise!
“I could escape in music. I love words. I love being my own guy. It's not something that I sought to achieve, but I just see words and chords and songs differently than many.”
Country music’s Brandon Rhyder has undoubtedly established himself as a fixture in the Texas Country Music / Red Dirt Music scene. Rhyder has released seven albums and boasts an impressive four #1 singles on the Texas Music Charts, along with a plethora of other milestones. He continues to push boundaries and deliver fresh material, all while maintaining his signature sound that fans across the country have grown to adore. On August 20, 2013, Brandon released a new full-length album, That’s Just Me, on Reserve Records via Thirty Tigers.
That’s Just Me, which is self-produced, serves as his eighth full-length album over the span of 12 years. Recorded and carefully crafted at The Zone in Dripping Springs, TX, this highly anticipated release includes cowrites from fellow Texan powerhouses and friends Josh Abbott and Wade Bowen that are sure to become fan favorites. The debut single from the album, "Haggard," is heavily inspired by Charlie Daniels and Riders in the Sky and is a clear picture into Rhyder’s youth. The song proved to be wildly successful as it scored the #1 position on the Texas Regional Radio Report (TRRR) in May 2013.
Rhyder has entirely embedded himself into this twelve-track compilation. He explains, “The overall feeling about life resonates on this collection. I hope people will see that I, along with my family on and off the road are focused, driven and thrilled to share our passion.” Brandon has never made a secret of creating Texas Country Music that is personal and reflects real-life experiences, and That’s Just Me is no exception. “We at the Texas Country Music Cruise are excited to be bringing Brandon “Aboard” for our guests” says TCMC Founder, Cynthia Tevis.
1/28/18 – Glen Templeton!
The 2018 Texas Country Music Cruise welcomes the incredibly talented Glen Templeton to the Line Up! “I’m not sure I chose country music, in a way it kind of chose me,” explains Glen Templeton, one of Texas Country Music’s most promising up and coming stars. “I probably had ten or eleven jobs from the time I got out of high school until the time I finally moved to Nashville and I think I was probably fired ten or eleven times too!”, says Templeton with his trademark mischievous grin. “I’d show up for work bleeding through the eyes from being out singing and playing music the night before and pretty soon the boss man would have enough and I’d be fired. The thing is, the more jobs you lose, the less and less professional that next job becomes. One day you’re working at the Chevrolet garage or running heavy equipment and the next thing you know you’re digging ditches by hand with a shovel. That’s why I say I think country music kind of chose me. It just kept pulling on me, no matter what the cost was at the time.” Today, GT, as his friends refer to him, wraps his hands around the neck of a guitar instead of a shovel. It’s a career change that seems to be working out – now the jobs are becoming more and more professional. In 2008 GT was hand picked by Conway Twitty’s daughters to portray Conway in the touring musical tribute to their father. They first heard about Glen through Joni Twitty’s husband, John Wesley Ryles. Ryles, a noted studio background vocalist, had worked with Glen on demo projects. “With more than 20,000 hopefuls auctioning for the part, Joni Twitty finally found a powerful voice capable of conveying many of the same qualities Conway had”. “One of the biggest thrills of my life was performing the inaugural show of the musical,” explains Templeton. “We were still waiting for my wardrobe to be finished for the tour and I actually got to wear some of Conway’s old suits. I wore these custom wigs they made for me out in LA. I was singing his songs and hearing people react to them the way they must have reacted to him. In a way, it was like getting a chance to literally walk in the shoes of one of my musical heroes.” When asked about some of his influences growing up, Glen had this to say,” I listened to a lot of Waylon Jennings because I liked his outlaw style of music; and I really liked Haggard too, the simplicity and the way he told a real story in his songs; and Conway too of course. He had so much power and emotion in his singing. All three of them are great songwriters and had their own way of making people believers in what they were singing. I hope someday people will say the same thing about me… that I have my own unique way of singing a song and making people believe in what I’m singing about. That’s why I’m in this for the long haul. I’ve got a lot of things I’d like to say.”
“The 2018 Texas Country Music Cruise is honored to have Glen Templeton joining the acoustic rounds with some of the best in the industry. Glen has this sound that’s kind of old timey classic greatness mixed with new energy and style that makes this Up and Comer on the Texas Country / Red Dirt music scene something extraordinary and wonderful to watch out for!” Says Cynthia Tevis Founder of the Texas Country Music Cruise
1/21/18 – Bart Crow
The 2018 Texas Country Music Cruise is Proud to announce Bart Crow Band will Headline the Finale Performance of this epic music cruise!
Bart Crow is a simple man with simple things to say. If you read his biography on FB it only states:
‘We love good music & do our best to make good music.”
He currently resides in Austin TX which one could say is the hub of all Texas Country and Red Dirt Music. He credits his influences to Jesus, his parents, Gram Parsons, Elvis, Life, The Beatles, & Positive Thinking.
Always known as “the nice guy” with a smile on his face, the tides are turning and the gloves are coming off. Bart Crow is still the kind of guy and Texas Country artist fans in the South and Midwest have grown to love. But on his new album The Parade, boundaries disappear and things are getting real.
The road-toughened troubadour and his band have already logged thousands of miles playing 130+ dates a year in front of loyal rowdy crowds at far-flung, late-night clubs and concert halls all over Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska and beyond. It’s his music that draws them — a tangle of roots in blues, country, red dirt, and down-home rock ‘n’ roll, branded with his unique imprint. They hear their lives in his lyrics, written in the tradition of Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle and other true-life troubadours.
Crow has put together an admirable track record as a recording artist, having lofted six No. 1 singles onto the Texas Music Chart – one of which, “Wear My Ring,” sold over 165,000 copies. He has sold over 40,000 albums, released five self-produced albums in just over a decade, including Dandelion, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Heatseekers South Central chart. He’s been cheered in Country Weekly, on CMT and in other national media outlets. His YouTube videos and concert footage have drawn more than 2.5 million views.
He’s chiseled his foothold in the edifice of Americana through hard work, talent, determination and a deep love for making music and building the best life he can for his wife Brooke and three kids, Townes and twins River and Parsons.
Myriad spirits haunt his music– a choir of real American country in the fashion of Merle and Waylon, John Conlee, George Jones and Jerry Jeff Walker, razor-edged rock from Metallica, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, deep-fried Southern soul from Otis Redding and more.
Yet in the end, Bart Crow is what you get: a blue-collar balladeer with his own unique message.
“I can relate to blue-collar folks everywhere because I don’t know any difference between them and me,” he insists. “My uncle is a fireman who works on a ranch on his days off. My other uncle is a fireman. My brother works as a construction superintendent. I’ve worked construction too. I’ve stained decks and built fences in 110-degree weather. My father grew up white-trash broke, a
ninth-grade dropout. He eventually became a self-made multi-millionaire with his own commercial drywall corporation, but we didn’t have luxury growing up.”
He grew up in tiny Maypearl, Texas, made his first attempts to write songs while in the United States Army and geared up to his current regimen as a performer on weekends while studying at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. Perhaps the most significant milestone in his past involved moving with his future wife Brooke to Austin, where they worked together to get him started as a Texas Country Music artist.
“It’s pretty damn scary when you’re raising a family off of touring and it becomes time to cut a new album, which means investing up to $70,000 of my own money,” he admits. “My 4-year-old, Townes, starts preschool in August. Our 17-month-old twins, River and Parsons, are blowing through diapers left and right. And I’ve got to take money that could be going to their college funds, more money than I have in my personal checking account, sit down at the crap table of life, roll the dice and hope that someone falls in love with the 11 or 12 songs we picked.”
That’s why Crow’s dream at this point involves more than spreading appreciation for his music from coast to coast. “I want to go to Seattle and Spokane and all the West and East Coast spots and the South, to DC and Manhattan and Connecticut. and have people show up and sing along with us,” he insists. “I want to hear people all over America come up to me and say, ‘Hey, we got married to your song!’ I’m like, ‘Have you been on iTunes? Do you know how many frigging songs are on there — and you chose mine?’ I don’t take that lightly.”
No, more even than that, he wants what everyone who discovers his music wants as well. “I’d love to go to bed at night and not fear for what’s going to happen next month or next year. I used to say, when we bought our tour bus, we were one backstroke away from being dead in the water. It would be nice to earn that through selling tickets and playing in so many of these beautiful cities I’d love to see.”
That dream is happening now for Bart, and we are happy to bring his dream to the Caribbean ocean to join so many of his adoring fans in 2018! Its stories like Bart’s that make what we are doing in the Texas Country Music Cruise so important! These artists are special to us Texans and we want to recognize them and bring a place where fans and musicians can spend a great time at sea and lots of fun in the sun enjoying a real Texas Sized Vacation!
1/14/18 - Zane Williams!
The 2018 Texas Country Music Cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas welcomes Zane Williams to the line up! Zane’s music is true Texas Country and "Bringin' Country Back" is more than a catchphrase for Zane Williams. It is a rallying cry for a return to authenticity and substance in mainstream country music, and a fitting title for his sixth studio album. "I think of country music as poetry for the common man." he says reflectively. "The stories that draw you in, the simple truth stated in a way you wish you couldn't said...there's an honesty to country music that totally grabbed me the first time I heard it". Zane has racked up five top-ten Texas Country Music radio hits --- SEVEN if you count his songs "Ride With Me" and "While I Was Away", which were #1 hits for Cody Johnson and Pat Green respectively. He was the big winner at the 2015 Texas Regional Radio Awards, taking home three honors, including the top prize for "Entertainer Of The Year". Wide Open Country has listed Zane as #2 on their ranking of "Rising Texas Country Artists You Need To Know", and the legions of 'Zaniacs' who pack out his honky-tonk shows couldn't agree more. “Zane is a welcome addition to the 2018 Texas Country Music Cruise line up and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him” says Cynthia Tevis, Founder of the Texas Country Music Cruise. And she wants you to “Stay tuned for more great Texas Country Artist announcements!’
12/23/17 - Reckless Kelly!
Reckless Kelly will Headline the 2018 Texas Country Music Cruise. A band known for Americana, Red Dirt Country and Texas Country Music. Here’s a little about the band’s info and they’re journey through the scene. Understanding the virtuosity of Reckless Kelly requires the perspective of where the band has been and their migration to that great musical fountainhead, Austin, Texas.
The band’s co-founders and frontmen toured the country as part of their father’s band, Muzzie Braun and the Boys, as children. Their father taught his four sons a professional ethic – integrity, persistence, hard work and professionalism – honed over three generations. They overcame hardships, struggled for recognition, and learned lessons.
It’s utterly natural that Reckless Kelly, born in the dreams of the two Braun brothers and their heritage but nurtured in the bumpy road of maturity, became the very essence of Americana music in all its far-flung glory.
“We came along in that second wave of the movement,” Cody Braun says. People like Joe Ely, Ray Kennedy and Robert Earl Keen were always big supporters. Our goal was to make music that had a country vibe but a solid rock edge.”
As Music Row magazine proclaimed, “In my perfect world, this is what country radio would sound like.” “This” is Reckless Kelly.
The heartland gave the band authenticity. Musical lives honed its skill. Adversity instilled its persistence. Moving to Austin gave it wings to fly.
As kids, the Brauns – Cody, Willy, Micky and Gary – shared a stage with the likes of Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell and Merle Haggard. Micky and Gary Braun now helm their own band, Micky and the Motorcars. In Bend, Cody and Willy added drummer Jay Nazz, who brought with him his own unique experience.
“I had grown up in the Northeast, performing at clubs and weddings with my dad and brother from the age of 13,” Nazz recalls, “so, when I met Willy and Cody, we already had that in common. Both of our dads were musicians with a very similar kind of performing discipline. That helped us bond immediately.”
The band took its name from the legend of Ned Kelly, the Australian highwayman, and the three moved to Austin in the autumn of 1996, where they carved a niche of their own. Early on, Keen, a Texas legend himself, took them under his wing and became their first manager. They listened, watched and interacted with the creative dynamos of the outlaw country scene – Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark and others – and joined them in a redefinition of what contemporary country music had become. Theirs was gritty, hard-edged, uncompromising and convincing. They turned country music real again.
For two decades, the band has toured coast to coast relentlessly. It has demonstrated its longevity in a world where trendy newcomers are proclaimed the Next Big Thing by spinning a couple pop hits.
The group’s new album, Sunset Motel, is, like all its predecessors, distinctive in its own way while true to form.
Twenty years since its founding, Reckless Kelly continues to fight for wider recognition, secure in the knowledge that fans, critics and contemporaries will continue to sing its praises.
“We’re at the point where we’re not content to be categorized as simply a party band anymore,” Willy says. “We would like folks to really hear these songs, to be able to hear the lyrics and appreciate the musicianship that goes into the arrangements. Yes, we still want our audiences to have a good time, but we also want to show that this is a real band with a cohesive attitude and a muscular backbone, as well. We don’t want to be pigeonholed as simply a Texas-based, beer-drinking, rowdy bunch of party boys. There’s a lot more to it than that.”
“This is a really good place to be,” Cody adds. “We’ve built a solid fan base, which gives us a nice safety net. At the same time, we can take things at a more leisurely pace because we can control our own destiny.”
Great bands know good music. They make it the way they like, confident that what they love, what excites them, will also gain traction with thousands and thousands, perhaps even millions, of passionate fans.
Reckless Kelly is, by the best possible definition, a great band.
The fierce self-reliance and independent spirit keeps Reckless Kelly happy, appreciative and charitable. Their annual festival, The Braun Brothers Reunion, in Challis, Idaho, has been ongoing for 37 years now. They reunite with their brothers, Gary and Micky (and the Motorcars). The Brauns run it without major sponsors or outside promoters.
The band also hosts the yearly Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam to raise money for Austin-area youth charities, putting $300,000 in those coffers over the past seven years.
“It’s a great way to give back,” Cody says. “It’s great to be able to share our success in such a positive way.”
Collectively, they’ve played over 3,000 shows and traveled over 1,500,000 miles to 49 states.
Reckless Kelly is a great band with an apt name. The outlaw’s spirit pervades the ambiance. They are rugged individualists who dedicate themselves to advancing the state of their art.
They’re good guys, too. Their hearts dwell in the right places, and those are where the music follows.
12/18/17 - Everything you need to know about the 2018 Texas Country Music Cruise! 
Imagine this: You're about to set sail on the fabulous Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas. You've got a week full of Texas-sized adventures coming your way. What could possibly make this trip any better? What about performances from ALL of your favorite Texas Country Music Artists! That's right a 7 day cruise featuring ALL of today's biggest Texas Country Music Acts! Add in 3 beautiful ports of call and you have the PERFECT vacation for any fan of the Texas Music Scene!
WHO: CALLING ALL TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC AND RED DIRT COUNTRY MUSIC FANS
WHAT: 2018 TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC CRUISE
WHEN: SEPTEMBER 16-23, 2018
WHERE: (DEPARTING FROM) GALVESTON, TEXAS
SAILING TO: COZUMEL MEXICO, GRAND CAYMAN CAYMAN ISLANDS, AND FALMOUTH JAMAICA
SEPT 16: DEPART GALVESTON, TX
SEPT 17: AT SEA
SEPT 18: COZUMEL, MEXICO
SEPT 19: GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS
SEPT 20: FALMOUTH, JAMAICA
SEPT 21: AT SEA
SEPT 22: AT SEA
SEPT 23: ARRIVE IN GALVESTON, TX
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH 2018: FULL BAND KICK-OFF CONCERT
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 17TH 2018: "TEXAS MUSIC IN THE ROUND" 1
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH 2018: DAY OFF IN COZUMEL, MEXICO
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH 2018: "TEXAS MUSIC IN THE ROUND" 2
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH 2018: DAY OFF IN FALMOUTH, JAMAICA
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST 2018: FULL BAND POOL PARTY (DAY TIME)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST 2018: "TEXAS MUSIC IN THE ROUND" 3
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22ND 2018: FULL BAND FINALE CONCERT
The Texas Country Music Cruise on the Royal Caribbean Liberty of The Seas September 16-23, 2018 for the Texas Country Music Cruise! Join us on the Royal Caribbean Liberty of The Seas September 16-23, 2018 for the Texas Country Music Cruise! That's right! A Texas-Sized Cruise featuring ALL of your favorite Texas Country Music Artists:
RECKLESS KELLY
BART CROW BAND
AUSTIN ALLSUP
CURTIS GRIMES
HOLLY TUCKER
JAKE WORTHINGTON
JASON CASSIDY
ZANE WILLIAMS
& MORE AWESOME ARTISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Artists Announcements Coming Weekly!
