If you have never spent an afternoon listening to a pedal steel guitar, it is hard to describe what you are missing. It is the sound of a Texas summer evening, a slow slide that can sound like a human voice crying or a distant train whistle, and it sits right at the heart of the state's musical identity. The Austin Steel Guitar Fest, put on by SteelRadio, is built around that one instrument, and the 2026 edition is coming up next month, from Thursday October 1 to Saturday October 3, at the Austin Marriott South over on South IH-35.
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The whole thing is indoors, which is a plus in October, and it runs from 10:00 AM to midnight each day. Thursday is the quieter opening, with seminars and a Welcome Party in the Marriott lounge backed by live steel guitar. Friday and Saturday are when the music really takes over, with two stages running all day. The Main Stage in the ballroom pairs Steel Guitar Hall of Fame members and legacy players with artists who are still out on the road, while the Non-Pedal Stage is the place for non-pedal players, dobro and slide guitar. Between the sets, there are workshops and showcases that walk you through the history and the technique of the instrument, so you walk away actually understanding how the sound is made.
The biggest moment of the weekend lands on Saturday afternoon. The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, a St. Louis-based non-profit, is inducting three new members after a ten-year pause: David 'Feet' Rogers, posthumously, along with Junior Brown and Lucky Oceans, both of whom will be playing during the festival. It is a rare chance to see a Hall of Fame induction and then hear the new inductees play the same weekend.
As for the lineup, it is a long one. Confirmed names include Aaron Stephens, Alan Akaka, Alli Vogtle, Anne Werbitsky, Anthony Locke, Billy Cardine, Bob Blair, Bobby Ingano, Bode Barker Jr, Boo Miller, Caleb Lindley, Caleb Melo, Carter Giegerich, Casey Martin, Christo Ruppenthal, Christopher Woitach, Dan Johnson, DaShawn Hickman, Dave Biller, Ed Littlefield with Marley's Ghost, Eddy Dunlap, Ethan Shaw, Flavio Pasquetto, Jack Phillips, Jake Penrod, James Shelton, Jim Cohen, Joe Wright, Junior Brown, Kevin Skrla, Lucky Oceans, Lynn Owsley, Mark Prucha, Marty Muse, Matthew Walton, Mike Drassler, Naomi Carman Pedal Steel, Noah Richard Comeaux, Rocco DeLuca, Rose Sinclair, Scott Walls, Silas Hamilton, Steve Palousek, Sweet Gary Newcomb, Troy Brenningmeyer, Vojko Lončarić, and Zack Wiggs. The schedule can shift, so it is worth keeping an eye on the latest updates.
On the practical side, there are steel guitar and manufacturer vendors plus tables from the Austin arts community, food and drink for sale, a full bar, and free parking. Tickets are sold online, and you can buy a three-day pass, a single day, or just the evening performances if you only want the headliners. If you are coming from out of town, the Marriott South and a few other nearby hotels have set aside rooms at event rates for the weekend. It is a deep dive into one instrument, but for anyone who loves the sound, there is not much else like it.
Published Date
6 September 2026
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