Photo by Andrew Sherman.
The Longhorn Ballroom’s new house band made of North Texas studio and touring musicians will lead country and R&B revue nights.
Chad Stockslager of Bastards of Soul and Thomas Csorba will lead the Longhorn Ballroom Players.
Edwin Cabaniss of Kessler Presents, the owner of the venue, said in a press release that he sees the band as a collective, welcoming a rotating group of local and touring musicians as guests. They’re already discussing potential gigs and a compilation album to showcase artists who have played at the Corinth Street venue.
Musician and record producer Bobby Patterson is among the guests participating in an upcoming R&B revue, led by Stockslager.
The Longhorn has a tradition of house bands. Back when the venue was called Bob Wills’ Ranch House, there was Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Under Dewey Groom, the venue became the Longhorn Ranch and then the Longhorn Ballroom, and the band became the Texas Longhorns.
Musicians such as Patsy Cline and Wanda Jackson have relied on the house band to back their performances.
This addition is part of Cabaniss’ vision to “preserve Texas’ most historic music venue,” he said at the March reopening of the Longhorn Ballroom.
Visitors will find that key features of the venue, including its stage and seating areas, maintain its tight-knit feel. And of course, the longhorn statue still remains outside. But new to the Longhorn are photos, news clippings and other kinds of memorabilia to mark the history of the venue and the figures who played a role in it. These tributes to Bob Wills, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Waylon Jennings and the Sex Pistols.
The first R&B revue, led by Stockslager, is May 19. The first Csorba-led country revue is June 16. Both events are free with advance RSVP, or they’re $10 at the door.
Find a schedule of upcoming events at the Longhorn here.
