The weekend, distilled. Your insider's guide to live music, food, and events across Bulverde, Spring Branch, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, and Blanco. Specht's runs five acts across four days starting Thursday, Cowboys and Cadillacs lines up Dan Whitaker on Friday night, and a Blanco taproom kicks the weekend off early with a round of music bingo.

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Bulverde: Specht's Texas keeps the stage running Thursday through Sunday this weekend. The Matt Tejeda Duo plays Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, and Saturday is the double-header: Chilton Vance opens the afternoon from 2:30 to 5:30 PM and RockCastle closes out the evening from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. If your weekend starts a day early, John David kicks things off Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Insider tip: The Saturday afternoon-to-evening run is the play. Grab a table under the shade trees for Chilton Vance, order off the smoked meat menu, and you are already posted up when RockCastle takes over at seven. The building goes back to 1890, and the grounds make the outdoor seating one of the better spots in Bulverde once the sun drops.

barandgrillsanantonio.com

New Braunfels: Cowboys & Cadillacs brings Dan Whitaker with JP McCabe to the stage Friday from 8:00 to 11:00 PM, and Kyle Garrett follows on Saturday from 9:30 to 11:00 PM. The venue on Loop 337 runs one of the larger dance floors in New Braunfels, and the sound system fills the room without drowning out the conversation at your table.

Insider tip: Friday is the stronger night this week. Dan Whitaker draws a two-stepping crowd, so if you want a table near the dance floor, plan on arriving by 7:30. Sunday brings Clayton Chapin from 8:00 to 9:30 PM if your weekend runs long.

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New Braunfels: Pour Haus Patio Bar runs live music every night of the week, and this weekend's highlights are the Trever Underwood Band on Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 PM and Guy Vincent on Saturday starting at 9:30 PM. The open-air patio pairs a deep craft beer list with tacos from the on-site food truck, and the vibe stays loose well past midnight.

Insider tip: If you want a later start to your Friday night, this is the move. The Trever Underwood Band plays until 11:30, so you can eat elsewhere and still walk in for most of the set. Parking is on the street and in the lot behind the building.

pourhausnb.com

Bulverde: Cibolo Creek Eatery & Venue has settled into its spot on Bulverde Lane and the cocktail program is catching up to the kitchen. The Matador (sotol, lime, pineapple, agave) is the drink getting talked about, and the enchiladas trio, topped with chipotle, mole, and creamy poblano on one plate, is worth ordering at least once. Open daily, with extended hours Thursday through Saturday until 10:00 PM.

Insider tip: Sunday brunch runs until 3:00 PM, and the street mini tacos are still the first thing regulars order. The outdoor patio and grounds set this place apart from your typical Tex-Mex spot. If you have not been back since they opened, it is a different place now.

cibolocreekeatery.com

Blanco: Real Ale Brewing Company hosts Music Bingo: 80s & 90s Hip Hop this Friday, September 11, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the taproom and beer garden. The brewery is also pouring its seasonal Bavarian-style Oktoberfest lager right now, brewed with German malt and hops using traditional methods. It is only around for a few more weeks.

Insider tip: The beer garden is shaded, dog-friendly, and open Wednesday through Sunday. Arrive by 4:30 to grab a tasting flight and a seat before the bingo round fills up. The taproom pours beers and spirits you will not find on draft anywhere else in the Hill Country.

realalebrewing.com

Spring Branch: The Desert Spoon sits inside Spring Creek Gardens on US-281, where Chef Tatu Herrera builds a seasonal farm-to-table menu around Hill Country ingredients. Dinner service runs Wednesday through Saturday from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Counter service for coffee, pastries, and sandwiches opens Wednesday through Sunday at 9:00 AM.

Insider tip: The fried quail is the signature, but the menu rotates with the season, so there is usually something new on the board. The restaurant sits inside a working nursery with fountains and gardens, and the setting alone is worth the drive. Happy hour runs Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

thedesertspoonrestaurant.com

On the Radar: Oktoberfest at Real Ale Brewing returns Saturday, September 26, from noon to 6:00 PM at the brewery in Blanco. Free admission. The Czech Melody Masters are making this their final Real Ale Oktoberfest and have said they are going all out. Stein hoist competition, Hammerschlagen, doggie costume contest, bratwursts, pretzels, and cold-conditioned Oktoberfest on tap. Reserve a commemorative 1L stein on their website ($25, or $35 with stein hoist entry).

realalebrewing.com/oktoberfest

We keep these updates brief so you can spend less time on your phone and more time enjoying the Hill Country.

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See you out there.

Alex
Hill Country Hot Ticket