By Terry Hagerty

Special to the American-Statesman

While Bastrop certainly has some gifted homegrown musicians, a local resident who is a musician and producer prominent in Texas music wants to take Bastrop a step further � by pairing local acts with some of the state�s best known performers. Freddy Fletcher, a nephew of Willie Nelson and a founder and partner in Austin venue ACL Live and recording studio Arlyn, is kicking off a monthly music series at Viejo�s Tacos Y Tequila on Main Street on Friday, March 3.

�A show a month is our goal,� Fletcher said during an interview at Viejo�s with brothers and owners/managers Danny and Joe Oviedo III in attendance. Fletcher, a Bastrop resident, said the monthly series will bring �consistency� to the town�s live musical offerings.

The series� nametag, Just East of Weird Live, is a snappy logo previously created by Bastrop blues guitarist Larry Wilson to capture�s the town�s eclectic environs, with a nod to Austin. The March 3 show ( 8 p.m., $10) will feature the Peterson Brothers, Bastrop�s well-known �blues brothers� who play regularly at Austin�s famed Continental Club, followed by Jimmy T & the Teardrops, a seasoned band performing classic blues, R&B, soul and gospel music.

Fletcher said the monthly series �will be a chance to showcase local talent� and to �get them in front of more people than they might normally have.� Fletcher mentioned Dale Watson and Micky & the Motorcars as other well-known Texas performers who might be part of the series in the future.

�With Freddy Fletcher involved, you know the quality of it will be good,� said SiriusXM satellite radio personality Dallas Wayne, a singer-songwriter who�s� also a Bastrop resident. �The marriage of touring acts with local acts will help strengthen the Bastrop music community.�

Fletcher, who worked with Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver and recorded B.W. Stevenson�s final album, says he was drawn to Bastrop�s storied past. �I love the history of this town,� he said, including the vintage and adjoining Kesselus and Kleinert buildings which house Viejos� restaurant and its adjoining bar/music room.

Fletcher said the buildings �remind me of Gruene Hall,� the historic venue near New Braunfels. �Not many people know the real history of Bastrop; it�s one of the oldest communities in Texas,� he added. Now it will have a promising new live music series.

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