Austin's beloved Blues on the Green summer concert series might get a lifeline from the city after organizers announced last month it was axed due to prohibitive costs. Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison is championing a comeback with a proposed resolution to be presented on February 15, seeking to "solidify co-sponsorship" for the more than 30-year-old series.
The resolution may involve budget authorizations, fee waivers, and guidelines to keep the series free and maintain diversity among its performers, all while keeping in line with the city's payment scale of $200 per performer. Harper-Madison, in her post on the City Council Message Board, emphasized the city's role in supporting public events that allow residents to enjoy Austin's distinctive live music and arts culture without financial barriers, according to the Austin Monitor.
The matter of partnership between the city and Waterloo Media, owners of Austin City Limits Radio, which runs the festival, is still up in the air. The station, citing rising costs as a decisive factor in the cancellation, has not commented on the potential resolution. They hinted that city fees for using Zilker Park may be a part of the financial strain preventing the festival from proceeding without charging admission or taking a cut of bar sales.
Music Commission's Anne-Charlotte Patterson has expressed optimism about the city's role in supporting live music and is keen to learn the details of such collaborations. "The commission's always happy to see support for live music from the Council," she told the Austin Monitor.
