Riffs, Roams and Raves uncovers the creative, noteworthy and accomplished in the Wimberley Valley and beyond with tips on who to hear, where to go and what to see from managing editor Teresa Kendrick.
Organizers of the “True South: An Antarctica Story” fundraiser last week said that at least 370 supporters turned up to rally behind the creative team of Rodney Bursiel and James D. Cooper. The venue chosen for the event, the superb Villa at the Vineyard in Driftwood, was jammed full of people, sitting, standing, roaming and greeting each other in anticipation of the evening’s headliner, Billy F Gibbons.
I joined the party relatively late at 7 p.m. and found, what I believe, was the very last place to park behind the 5,000 square foot banquet hall. For several long moments I was transported to the Italian countryside while taking in the towering trapezoidal stone hall with its supporting buttresses and clay tile roof. Outside, the vineyard, like the hall, was immaculate and serene.
Inside, as I mentioned, was a different story. After checking in with Rose Gabriel of the Hill Country Honeys, who bravely staffed the check-in table, a gentleman in a leather coat passed a wand over my silhouette to scan for what I assume were weapons. I dodged photographers and videographers who circled the room looking for the best place to land. Musical artists Eve Monsees & Mike Buck and Lindsay & Brad performed for fans while guests sampled food, drank wine and bid on signed guitars, LPs, CDs and other music memorabilia at the auction table.
Rodney and James took to the stage to talk about their journey to Antarctica in 2025 for the filming of their “True South” feature-length documentary. Behind them, projected on the wall, were huge breathtaking images of marine animals photographed by Rodney. Throughout the evening, the flickering images of breaching whales and colossal waves reminded us why we were there. As eight o’clock approached, people began to find their seats and waited for Billy F
PHOTOS BY TERESA KENDRICK Gibbons and his band, the BFGs, to arrive.
Cheers, whistles and applause greeted the musicians as they stepped on stage. Rodney told the audience that he and Billy were childhood friends who kept in touch throughout the years. Clad in formal black satin jackets, the band collectively cut a fine figure on stage before launching into their opening number. Lean and sporting his signature white beard and dark glasses, Gibbons appeared relaxed, sometimes smiling at the audience between vocals.
At ground zero, Mike August, host of the KWVH “Rootin’ Around Radio” program was in the front row. He wrote about his experience in an email the next day.
“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top fame performing before a crowd of about 350 people,” Mike wrote. “Gibbons, who was joined by bassist Mike Flanigin and drummer Chris Layton, played ZZ Top crowd favorites like “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Dark Sunglasses.” Also on the playlist were blues standards that Gibbons grew up with in southeast Texas. During the set, he asked the crowd for requests and one of them was for a ‘60s hit that preceded the formation of ZZ Top. Gibbons’ band, The Moving Sidewalks, recorded “99th Floor” in 1968 before ZZ Top formed. Gibbons was pleased that the song was remembered by fans. He reminisced about opening for a Jimi Hendrix tour at the time and launched into a cover of “Foxy Lady.” At first, the sound was true to the original, but Gibbons soon made the song his own by launching into an incredible guitar interpretation.”
This second fundraiser to help finance the bold,” True South” documentary met an important goal for the million dollar undertaking. According to director James D. Cooper, Phase One, which entails getting to Antarctica and back, is secured thanks to the people of Wimberley.
“As a native Aussie who has been working in California for seven years, I am blown away by the generosity of people in Rodney’s home town. Texas is world famous for their hospitality but people here are particularly big hearted. It’s not common for people to support the arts. I feel humbled and honored,” he told me over a Topo Chico at Dos Olivos last week. That interview profiles Cooper and the True South Project in greater detail and will appear in the August 15 edition of the Wimberley View.
Roam: Lone Star Camp in Driftwood My roam this week took me back to Driftwood to visit the Lone Star Camp, where kids aged 4 to 11 have the opportunity to experience horses and ranch life for the first time. Held every single month during the year, the camp teaches kids about horsemanship, riding, fishing, ranch livestock, nature and wildlife in a structured curriculum tailored to their age and skill level. The beauty about the camp is that it is affordable for families who don’t want the expense of individual riding lessons. There is a teen camp for older kids too. It caters to urban kids who want to experience the Texas lifestyle and heritage. Deeply passionate about building Texans, one child at a time, the owners, Kristina and Hill Adams, put their hearts and souls into the program. Assisted by a team of young people who progressed from being students to becoming instructors, the camp is an uplifting experience that transforms kids into confident, responsible young people. For a more in depth article, tune in to next week’s roam.
Raves: Shield Ranch Barton Creek DarkSky International officially certified Shield Ranch Barton Creek as an Urban Night Sky Place. It joins three neighboring designated International Dark Sky Places: Dripping Springs and Bee Cave — both International Dark Sky Communities — and Travis County Milton Reimers Ranch Park — an International Dark Sky Park — to protect the night sky.
“Shield Ranch is Texas’s 20th International Dark Sky Place certified in the International Dark Sky Places program. In addition to three Developments of Distinction, there are now 23 internationally recognized sites in the state that have gone above and beyond in the pursuit of improving light pollution and educating the public about the importance of dark sky conservation. It is exciting to see how much the dark sky movement has grown in the state, especially in such a rapidly growing area,” said Amber Harrison, International Dark Sky Places program manager.
Shield Ranch is located on the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country, just 18 miles west of downtown Austin. It is a 6,400-acre nationally designated historic district and protected wildland comprising ten percent of the Barton Creek watershed. Fred and Vera Shield of San Antonio purchased the property in 1938 and the land continues to be stewarded by the Shield/Ayres/Bowen family and the Shield Ranch Foundation.
Through an evolving program of land stewardship, four generations of the family have gradually restored the Ranch to a mosaic of habitats that today is home to a diverse community of native plants and animals.
To support the land management program, the ranch partners with conservation organizations, universities and governmental entities. It is protected in perpetuity by two conservation easements held by The Nature Conservancy and the City of Austin. The easements preclude commercial development while allowing traditional agricultural and recreational activities and limited development within strict parameters for a small number of family residences, ecotourism activities, and facilities for nonprofit and community group use.
The owners and managers of Shield Ranch understand the ways well-managed rangelands benefit a rapidly growing region, providing water and air quality, wildlife habitat, scenic vistas and access to natural areas both during the daytime and at night.
“As advocates for wildlife conservation, we understand the importance of reducing outdoor lighting to reduce harmful impacts to wildlife including migrating birds, as well as moths and other insects that are active at night,” Robert Ayres, co-owner of Shield Ranch, said.
“We look forward to joining other Dark Sky Places in the region,” Blake Murden, CEO of the Shield Land Stewardship Group, said. “Shield Ranch serves as a model to support and increase the number of dark sky initiatives in the area.”
Shield Ranch will serve as a model to support, and increase, the number of dark sky initiatives in the area.
— Blake Murden, CEO
