Second Chances Songwriter Series brings together songwriters whose journeys haven’t been straight lines. Join us for an evening of original music, real stories, and honest craft. 🎵
Featuring Mary-Charlotte Young, Dalton Domino and Caroline Sears
Matt Hillyer is a veteran singer-songwriter pushing a lifetime of influences to their limit yet always sounding authentically like himself . His latest record, Bright Skyline, showcases a range that Hillyer fine-tuned over three decades playing Texas dance halls, both as a solo artist and for 23 years as the frontman of Eleven Hundred Springs. “I’ve always tried to mix up styles that I love,” says Hillyer about the eleven tracks on Bright Skyline — a journey from his rockabilly roots through western swing, outlaw, and traditional honky-tonk country.
leans into atmosphere and emotion, blending indie rock textures with a Southern-rooted sense of storytelling. Their sound moves between moody, reverb-soaked passages and driving, melodic hooks, creating a push-and-pull that feels both intimate and expansive. There’s a cinematic quality to their music—songs that build slowly, unfold deliberately, and linger long after they end—anchored by lyrics that explore longing, memory, and the quiet tension of everyday life.
Hailed as “the next queen of Americana-Folk” by NPR, Jaimee Harris has built a reputation for her gritty, honest songwriting that tackles themes of family, addiction, and hope. Known for her deeply personal lyrics and powerful, folk-infused Americana sound, Harris returns to her Central Texas roots for this special performance.
“Long before punk went pop, four nerds in suburban California were rewriting the rules of rock and roll.”Filmage is the definitive look at the Descendents—the band that pioneered melodic hardcore and proved you could be a caffeine-addicted chemist and a punk icon at the same time.
Directors Justin Wilson and Matt Riggle will be in attendance with a Q&A directly after
Mark Kieran & Cosmic Western bring storytelling, steel strings, and Texas skies together for an intimate night at Texas Music Cafe. Emerging from the sun-bleached spaces of the American Southwest, Mark Kieran and the Cosmic Western are carving a distinct space in the modern indie-rock and alt-country scene. Their sound is a cinematic blend of desert atmosphere and mountain air—equal parts restless energy and soulful warmth.
promising a night that will balance power, precision, and soul. A Grammy-nominated, multi–Blues Music Award-winning artist, Foley is known for commanding the stage with both technical brilliance and emotional depth, drawing from Texas blues traditions while making the sound unmistakably her own.
Hailing from the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Único brings a refreshing, modern twist to the classic Latin funk sound. Known for their seamless blending of traditional Afro-Latin percussion with deep, psychedelic funk basslines and shimmering guitar work
Get ready for a night of authentic Texas Americana as Brock Bushong & The Still Shakes take the stage for a special live session at the legendary Texas Music Cafe in Waco.
Known for a sound that captures the “open road, the dust, the heartbreak, and the hope,” Brock Bushong brings a gritty, soulful edge to the singer-songwriter tradition. Backed by the raw energy of The Still Shakes, this performance promises to be an evocative journey through roots-rock and modern folk.
Jessi C. - frequent audience member
Texas Music Cafe® is more than a stage—it’s a movement. We preserve and uplift the voices of Texas musicians through intimate performances, live recordings, and community-driven programming.
Whether you’re an artist, educator, volunteer, sponsor, or fan, there’s a place for you here. Join us in building something lasting—rooted in music, powered by passion.
