William Harries Graham grew up in a musical family. As the son of local musician Jon Dee Graham, he’s been hanging around the Saxon Pub and the Continental Club since he was a toddler. He says he started writing songs at age three. He performed for the first time at the Austin Music Awards at seven. Last year he started his own band, the Painted Redstarts.
But even as a young musician with many hook ups in the local scene, William has found that it’s not always easy to find venues to perform as a teen musician. Which is one reason he’s teamed up with another young local, Grace London, to organize the Youngbloods Festival, an all-ages evening of music at the Continental Club on Saturday.
Local U18 acts like the Peterson Brothers and Residual Kid will play, as well as other 2nd generation Austin musicians like Curtis McMurtry and Finley Sexton.
More than just a showcase of up-and-coming young talent, the Youngbloods Fest is also a benefit for the San Perlita School District in South Texas. Donations of money and musical instruments will be collected at the Continental Club on Saturday, and all proceeds left after paying musicians will be passed along to the school so they can start a music program.
The festival starts at 7PM on Saturday at the Continental Club on South Congress. Tickets can be purchased on the Continental Club’s website (for $17) or at the door (for $20).
We spoke with William Harries Graham and Jon Dee Graham about musical families, Austin’s U18 scene, and how the festival came together.
