Fort Worth’s vibrant music community welcomes longtime local artist Sonny Votolato back to the stage this November. After decades of writing songs that few have heard, Votolato will showcase his work in two distinct settings that highlight both his solo craft and his collaborative band, BYeGONES.
Solo acoustic set at the Fort Worth Songwriter Festival
On Nov. 14, Votolato will perform a solo acoustic set at the third annual Fort Worth Songwriter Festival, held at Tulips. The intimate venue will give audiences a chance to hear the raw, stripped‑down versions of songs that have been nurtured over many years. Votolato’s approach to songwriting is simple: he gathers ideas, writes them down, and lets them mature over time. “I get a bunch of little ideas, and then I stick a pen in it,” he explained, adding that he often returns to those seeds later to develop them further.
BYeGONES EP release party
A week later, on Nov. 21, Votolato will return with his full band, BYeGONES, for a cassette release party at The Cicada. The event celebrates the group’s new EP, Older Still, a collection of songs that have been refined for years. The band’s lineup includes drummer Nick Braddy, bassist Bryan Bradford, keyboardist Franklin Munoz‑Castillo, and guitarist Clint Wheeler. Together they move between rock, shoegaze, psychedelic textures, and traditional songwriting without settling into a single genre. “I think the genre that I feel that I’m interested in is no genre,” Votolato said. “I really don’t like things in a box.”
Roots and friendships in the North Texas music scene
Votolato first picked up the guitar as a teenager and spent his early career collaborating around North Texas before moving to Seattle in 1993, where he immersed himself in the independent music scene. After the COVID‑19 pandemic, he returned to Texas with his dog and a trunk full of gear, landing back in Fort Worth on New Year’s Eve 2020. That night he met drummer Nick Braddy, a meeting that sparked the formation of BYeGONES in 2021.
Fort Worth singer‑songwriter Ryker Hall first crossed paths with Votolato at the inaugural Fort Worth Songwriter Festival two years ago. The two have since become friends, sharing music recommendations and co‑writing songs. Hall also contributed vocals to two BYeGONES tracks recorded at Llama House with producer Clint Kirby. Hall praised Votolato’s willingness to let songs develop organically. “He’s freer about it than I am,” Hall said. “I try to finish. He just kind of strikes gold often.”
What listeners can expect from Older Still
The EP reflects Votolato’s patient approach to songwriting. “The songs on this EP are coming out at the right time after years of tweaking them and getting everything where it belongs,” he said. Fans can anticipate a blend of melodic rock, atmospheric shoegaze, and thoughtful lyricism that showcases the band’s collective chemistry.
Both events underscore the resilience of Fort Worth’s music scene, which continues to thrive despite recent challenges. Local venues like Tulips and The Cicada provide essential platforms for artists to share their work and for audiences to experience the creative spirit of the community.
For more information about the festival and the EP release party, visit the Fort Worth Report or follow the events on social media.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
