39th Annual Buddy Holly 

SXSW kickoff Bash!

Tuesday - March 11, 2025

7-10pm 

WATCH LIVE RECORDING:

"listening event....  you will be hushed!"

Dear Friends, 
It’s that time of the year again - please join us Tuesday, March 11th at 7pm to raise awareness and funds for the work of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation at our Annual Buddy Holly SXSW Kick Off Party. 
The Buddy Holly Foundation builds on Buddy’s legacy by promoting musical education for young people, in cooperation with the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association and their Texas Songwriter U program. Raising funds for these worthy 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations at our Annual SXSW Kick Off Party supports musical education for young people in Texas and across the country for years to come!
This is a "listening room" style showcase, and all attendees are asked to hush while artists are performing. Adults only. Please be sure you have a safe ride.

This is a donation Based Event.

About Our 2025 Artists:

No performer has graced the “Safe House” stage with more ferocious performances than Bruce Smith.  The way he wails at a fever pitch, then brings it all down to a whisper and finally rocks all the spaces in between, while always maintaining intensity and integrity, earns him a growing following that spans genre boundaries. Bruce Smith is a seasoned singer-songwriter whose heartfelt storytelling and melodic craftsmanship have endeared him to audiences far and wide. Drawing from the rich traditions of folk, rock, and Americana, Bruce infuses each composition with an evocative sense of place and a resonant emotional core.  A true troubadour at heart, Bruce weaves narratives of love, loss, and resilience into timeless tunes that leave listeners feeling connected and inspired. With every performance, he delivers a soulful, captivating experience, reminding audiences of the power of honest songwriting and authentic performance.  His last album, “1000 Horses,” was released to excellent reviews and his monumental “59 Stratocaster” - a Buddy Holly tribute tune - is destined for film scores.

Izze Stein

Born on the stages and jazz clubs of New York City, Izze is an unsigned independent artist who has made frequent appearances at the Apollo Theater, Birdland Jazz Club, Wallace Lounge, Bowery Electric, and Nublu. She has opened for many R&B/Soul artists, including Adi Oasis at Palm Heights in the Cayman Islands. Izze’s sound is influenced by Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, Joni Mitchell, Cleo Sol, and Amy Winehouse. She recently released her debut album, QUESTIONS, which revolves around the theme of searching for self-value. Izze hopes to give those who relate to her stories space to feel and release emotional pain.

Bird Streets

Bird Streets is the power-pop brainchild of New York-based singer-songwriter John Brodeur. Launched to critical acclaim with a self-titled album produced by Jason Falkner (Beck, Jellyfish), Bird Streets quickly garnered praise from outlets like Rolling Stone and NPR for its memorable hooks, rich harmonies, and candid lyricism. Drawing on the melodic sensibilities of classic power-pop and the urgency of modern indie rock, Brodeur’s songcraft is marked by thoughtful storytelling and lush, layered arrangements. Whether on stage or in the studio, Bird Streets delivers an emotive musical experience that resonates with both devoted fans and first-time listeners, solidifying its place among today’s most exciting emerging acts. 

West Texas Exiles

The West Texas Exiles are a dynamic Americana outfit that merges the rugged spirit of the Southwest with the soulful heart of rock ’n’ roll.  With influences from The Flatlanders and Buddy Holly to Vampire Weekend and Jason Isbell, the West Texas Exiles are reinvigorating the music scene with a modern interpretation of the “Lone Star” vernacular. Grounded in rhythmic and lyrical honesty, the Exiles’ sound is the vastness of the West Texas sky and the energy of a world where nothing stands still for long. 

Driven by a passion for honest songwriting and raw musicianship, the West Texas Exiles have earned a devoted following for their electrifying live shows and reflective studio recordings. Each performance feels like a journey across sunbaked highways, and their growing discography continues to showcase their commitment to unfiltered expression and shared human experiences.  With the release of their debut EP, Volume I, they showcased the talents of their three singer / songwriters: Marco Gutierrez, Daniel Davis, and Colin Gilmore, all accompanied by masterful performances by bassist Eric Harrison and drummer Trinidad Leal. Fans showed their devotion at a sold out EP release at the legendary Saxon Pub in Austin. 

Special thanks to those who help make this event possible.

Our service providers, sponsors, and volunteers.

G-SMITH

Bars, Beats & Eats

TCMB Engineering

Texas Land Development

5th & West 

Residences

Can't make the event? Live stream it on YouTube!

Watch our past events, give them a like!

Listen in on our 2025 January Studio Grant Project w/ How Much?! Studios:

Best Regards

Stephen & Becky Easley

Maria Elena Holly

Peter Bradley, Sr.

David Hirshland 

Rick French 

Laurent Hubert

Phil Sandhaus

Peter Bradley Jr.

The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation (www.tbhef.org)

 

Michelle Johnson

Joe Ables

Jason Guest

The Texas Heritage Songwriters Association

Texas Songwriter U (www.texasheritagesongwriters.com/)


Eric Cager

Cutting Edge CE Conferences and Events

Music- Business- Law- Culture (https://cuttingedgenola.com/)

Rick French

Patrick Shanahan

French/West/Vaughan & Prix Productions (fwv-us.com)  

 

Charles Driebe

Sue Schrader

Blind Ambition Management (www.blindambitionmgt.com)

 

Stephen Easley

Richard Perna

Lars Halvor Jensen

TOG Music Publishing/SR&RS/DeeKay Music (www.deekaymusic.com)

 

Becky Easley

Courtney Kamlet

Stephen Easley

AllMojo Management (www.allmojomgt.com) 

TBHEF Foundation Partner: