Tammi Fest returns to Martindale

Tammi Fest

MARTINDALE — Texas singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix dedicated nearly a decade to turning her “OYOU” arts center dream into a reality.

In 2012, the OYOU officially became a non-profit organization, and last year, it celebrated its 10th anniversary of serving the central Texas area. Despite being an acronym for “Own Your Own Universe,” which reflects Hendrix’s independent career as a recording artist, the OYOU has always been focused on bringing joy to the communities it serves and changing lives through the creative arts.

On Sept. 29 and 30, Hendrix and Team OYOU invite YOU (and the whole family!) to share in that fun — and experience firsthand the joy of helping to make a positive difference in the world — at the OYOU’s 4th annual Tammi Fest, a community-wide two-day music festival in historic downtown Martindale.

Originally known as “Playing for Good,” the OYOU’s annual fundraiser was renamed Tammi Fest five years ago to honor Terri’s sister, Tammi Hendrix, who passed away in 2018. Tammi was a passionate music fan, artist, and advocate for civil rights and events that propagated inclusivity. Like all OYOU events, Tammi Fest will be fully accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Tammi Fest 2023 kicks off Friday evening with a ticketed in-door concert at 413 Main Street, and continues Saturday afternoon and evening with a free music festival on the grassy area right across the street. Although the OYOU was founded in nearby San Marcos and hosts events and workshops across Texas, Martindale became the non-profit’s official home in 2017 when Hendrix purchased her Wilory Farm spread just up the road, with the sole purpose of renovating the 12-acre property into an arts center, nature space, and rent-free base of operations for the OYOU. 

Tammi Fest’s opening festivities, the Friday, Sept. 29 ticketed indoor gala, will feature an “in-the-round” acoustic concert by longtime friends, colleagues, and award-winning musicians Terri Hendrix, a renowned guitarist and Austin City Limits Hall of Fame inductee, Lloyd Maines, and stellar songsmiths Adam Carroll and Chris Carroll.

The event will include a cash bar, snacks, a silent auction, and a raffle. Tickets are just $25, with free admission for children under 12. Additionally, three VIP Sponsor Tables, each seating six to eight people, and offering special gift baskets, are also available. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the music running from 7-8:30 p.m.

After Friday night’s opening, Tammi Fest heads outdoors on Saturday, Sept. 30 for the free outdoor, family-friendly and community-wide music festival, arts market and street dance, with the fun starting at 3:30 p.m. and going till 10 p.m. Local vendors will sell arts and crafts, and adults can purchase wine, beer, and delicious food at the Martindale River Cafe, all while enjoying hours of top-notch, genre-diverse live music performances by artists Elijah Stone, HalleyAnna Finlay, The Ditch Crickets, Possessed by Paul James, Rochelle and The Sidewinders, and Henry Invisible. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs for a comfortable seat to enjoy every minute of the impressive lineup — that is, when they’re not dancing!

Renowned musician and longtime OYOU fan and volunteer Lloyd Maines will emcee both days of the festival.

Every dollar raised at Tammi Fest — via tickets for Friday night’s concert and from voluntary donations collected Saturday or online — directly funds the OYOU’s mission of making the arts accessible to everyone and empowering and transforming lives by connecting the mind, body, and spirit through music and the creative arts. While it is a labor of love, it requires significant hard work, time, and funds to make it all possible.

Since obtaining its non-profit status, the OYOU has hosted numerous programs and special events online and in person at Wilory Farm and throughout the greater Central Texas area. The OYOU’s calendar is chock-full of programs that include arts and crafts, festivals, music and writing instruction, free community concerts, the OYOUth Club (a music and song camp for children), song circles, picking circles, women’s retreats, programs for schools, and specialized workshops for individuals with disabilities. 

All OYOU events and workshops provide a welcoming, non-judgmental environment that celebrates diversity and inclusivity. The OYOUth programs fill a void in arts-based education, which is increasingly absent in underfunded public schools, while other programs provide lifelong learning opportunities for adults and senior citizens. The high demand for the OYOU’s workshops and classes has led to consistent full capacity. While most programs require tickets, the OYOU offers scholarships to ensure that individuals who cannot afford tuition can still attend and learn. Scholarships are available based on financial need and for teachers, veterans, special-needs students, and for those living with chronic medical conditions. 

The OYOU’s mission not only benefits its participants but also supports local artists and professional musicians. These individuals are hired to lead workshops and are paid for their work or performances — even those that are free to the public. In an era where technology and changing consumer habits have disrupted the performing and visual arts industry, this provides artists with additional income and a meaningful way to inspire and teach through sharing their talents and experiences with appreciative audiences.

Several of the OYOU’s teachers have faced personal challenges, such as strokes, cancer, depression, or other life-altering conditions. Through mentoring students with similar conditions, they also find a renewed sense of purpose.

Hendrix herself understands these challenges — and rewards. While she continues to write, record, and perform, she has spent most of her adult life managing her music career while living with epilepsy, and most recently, spasmodic dysphonia and essential vocal tremor. But it’s her belief, grounded in the fact that she’s still here today, not just writing and singing but thriving, that music and art have been as vital to her mind, body, and spirit’s resilience as any medication she’s ever been prescribed. Which, of course, is how she first came up with the whole idea for the OYOU in the first place. 

“What ‘Own Your Own Universe’ means to me,” she says, “is that I have the power within me to live the best life I can, regardless of my circumstances — and in doing so, inspire others to do the same. The beauty of the OYOU is that anyone can take the tools we provide by way of our events and programs and apply them to their own lives. This reaffirms the power of the creative arts to impact the human condition and soul. Our programs are accessible to everyone. Because everyone should be able to embrace and enjoy the arts.” 

For Hendrix, the OYOU is more than just a dream come true: It is a mission that continues to grow and inspire. And it’s her hope that it will have a lasting impact long after her time on earth is done.

Schedule

Tammi Fest Weekend 2023

Location: 413 Main Street, Martindale

Info & Tickets: OwnYourOwnUniverse.org

Friday, Sept. 29:

Tammi Fest “Playing for Good” Concert

The OYOU’s Annual Fall Fundraiser

Ticketed indoor concert and kickoff gala

Doors at 6:30 p.m.

Show at 7-8:30 p.m.

Tickets: $25 (children under 12 admitted free with accompanying adult) 

In-the-round performances by: 

Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines

Adam Carrol and Chris Carroll

Saturday, Sept. 30:

Tammi Fest Music Festival 

Family-friendly Music Festival, Street Dance and Downtown Market 

Admission: Free

3:30-4 p.m. — Elijah Stone 

4-4:30 p.m. — HalleyAnna Finlay 

4:45-5:45 p.m. — The Ditch Crickets 

6-7 p.m. — Possessed by Paul James 

7:15-8:15 p.m. — Rochelle and The Sidewinders 

8:30-10 p.m. — Henry Invisible