Live music preview: Austin Ice Cream Festival After Dark to feature Lee Fields and the Expressions plus special guests
Saturday’s Austin Ice Cream Festival at Fiesta Gardens has become a popular summer event in Austin. Organizers sweetened the deal this year with a new component, After Dark featuring Lee Fields and the Expressions with Tameca Jones and DJ Mel providing support. Complimenting the Soul / R&B lineup is a boozy Milkshake Throwdown during which top local bartenders will compete to create the tastiest frozen drink. There will even be an evening ice cream eating contest.
Lee Fields is a soul singer with a second life, developing his talent for vocals at a young age and cut his first single in 1969. A series of setbacks put Fields out of the music business until the 1990s when he began touring the Southern circuit, making a name for himself as a passionate, soulful singer cut from the same cloth as James Brown who he’s often compared to. We can attest to the quality of his live performances having covered the gifted singer several times including a stunning opening set with Alabama Shakes at Stubb’s several years ago.
The whipped cream on top of that ridiculously tasty musical sundae is local soul queen, Tameca Jones who opens the show. Jones is a fiery personality who possesses a healthy, self-deprecating humor that endears her to a wide variety of music fans. To us she’s the Austin woman with pipes of gold. Jones’ silky voice is backed by a veteran lineup of musicians that often features the talented Willie Pipkin on lead guitar. It might be hot out Saturday night but fans are going to have a hard time standing still with the quality lineup the festival booked.
That’s not the end of the good news, Austin’s top vinyl jockey, DJ Mel with provide beats before, between and after the performances ensuring attendees will entertained the entire evening with good music. Tastes will be available from a host of ice cream purveyors including Amy’s Ice Cream, Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs and Teo Gelato. After Dark General Admission tickets are $35 and ZIP/ VIP tickets available for $50.
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