Blues on the Green back on after approval from city council, more funding

AUSTIN, Texas - Blues on the Green is back on due to the Austin City Council's approval of Resolution 23 and increased financial support from H-E-B.

Earlier this month, Council member Natasha Harper-Madison introduced a resolution for the city to co-sponsor the event.

"Lots of the traditions and events that I experienced growing up in Austin have disappeared as this City has grown and changed. There is a significant preservation aspect to this resolution for event stakeholders who are facing rising costs. We have a responsibility to assist our live music scene, especially as they have become more financially vulnerable even with increasing engagement from our residents," Harper-Madison said.

MORE: Austin city leaders make effort to save Blues on the Green

Blues on the Green is a long-standing tradition in Austin, and is the largest free concert series in the city. 

"It kind of makes Austin what Austin is," said Malika Assilamehoo, an Austin resident. "I love the event like I went twice in the past two years, obviously, and I go with a group of friends, and we just sit down and like enjoy music."

The concert series goes back more than 30 years.

"It represents Austin as the music capital of the world," said Don Johnson, an Austin resident.

But the music almost fell flat this year after organizers said it was growing too expensive to keep the free concert series going.

It was originally canceled due to the rising costs to produce the free event "present too big of a hurdle."

"We are a music city, and so we have an ecosystem that is going to require our support and our collective efforts towards making our events more sustainable and accessible," Harper-Madison said.

MORE: Austin's Blues on the Green 2024 season canceled

Austin City Council decided on Thursday that the show must go on by passing a resolution to co-sponsor the event.

"I'm all for it," said Johnson. "I was so disappointed that they were cutting it out. I was glad to see that they're bringing it back and getting sponsorships and the city involved."

H-E-B also stepped in and increased financial support.

"Thanks, H-E-B," said Assilamehoo "Very for Texas."

The event at Zilker Park draws tens of thousands of music lovers each summer.

With that resolution, council members also opened up the discussion to alcohol sales at the concerts.

"I love these events," said José "Chito" Vela, the District 4 representative at Austin City Council. "I want us to have them. Given financial limitations of the city we can not always be the ones that are, you know, writing the check to sponsor. We're going to need support from the community, and we're going to need, potentially, those types of revenues."

Austin City Council still has a ways to go before deciding if alcohol will be permitted. Some members expressed concern about security and safety concerns by bringing alcohol into the park.

The hosts, ACL Radio, still have yet to announce the dates of the event.

"We're thrilled that the people of Austin, the City, H-E-B and the countless other sponsors agree that Blues on the Green is an essential bit of what makes Austin the Live Music Capital of The World. We are so grateful to be able to continue this great, 30+ year tradition. See you in the park this summer!" said ACL Radio Program Director Lynn Barstow.

Either way, Austin residents say they're ready to jam.

"Let's just keep Austin rockin'," said Johnson.

More information about the event will be released soon.