la Frontera In the News

Round Rock Leader

June 12, 2003

WideAwake is second summer concert

by Michael Taylor, Leader Staff

Sunday is Father's Day and, if you're still wondering what to do, the organizers of the 2003 Summer Concert Series at the La Frontera Green would love to see you in the crowd when Austin-based pop/rock group WideAwake takes the stage for a free show.

The Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department and La Frontera have partnered to bring the band to town for the second of four concerts featuring bands deemed to be on the verge of achieving wider success. The hope, according to Terri Waggoner, marketing specialist for the Parks and Recreation Department, is to bring high quality entertainment options to Round Rock.

"Our goal is to improve the quality of life in Round Rock by providing great leisure opportunities for residents," Waggoner said. "With these concerts, we can say we do that."

In May, the blues rock stylings of Los Lonely Boys brought out an estimated 1,200 people to La Frontera and Waggoner is hopeful word will spread to bring still more people out this Sunday.

WideAwake began in the Seattle area seven years ago but the band moved to Austin to be a part of what they saw as a thriving musical scene after playing several shows there over the years, said manager Lott Shudde.

That has proved true for the band which has seen singles played on local commercial radio stations, had songs featured on television programs and a major motion picture — their single "Hey, John" was in the 2003 film "The Ring." The icing on the cake for the group was when they were named recently as a winner of the $15,000 grant given by the non-profit Austin Music Foundation. The money will finance recording costs for a third album to be released in the fall, according to guitarist Nate Navarro.

In the last five years, band members Navarro, Scott Leger, Steve Rude, Curtis Ryker and Eddie Willis of WideAwake have toured seven countries and performed more than 450 concerts. Their two previous albums, "Thread" and "bigger than ourselves" have sold about 18,000 copies, according to the band's Web site.

"It's been just tons and tons of hard work but when you love what you do its not that hard," said Navarro of the band's journey to this point. "We just love playing our music for people."

Navarro added that he is looking forward to playing the band's first ever Round Rock show and hopes music lovers of all ages show up for the concert because as the band has toured and played to a wide variety of audiences they have run into fans across the spectrum of ages.

Upcoming concert dates include the jazz music of Jon Barry Project on July 20 and country music on August 17.

WideAwake plays Sunday, June 15, from 730-930 p.m. at La Frontera Green at the corner of Sundance Parkway and La Frontera Boulevard.

Contact Michael Taylor at 255-5827 or by e-mail at michael@rrleader.com.