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Saturday Night at the Broken Spoke

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Music: Country

22/03/2015

BBC Radio 6 Music - Saturday Night at the Broken Spoke

Another chance to hear Mark Lamarr visit The Broken Spoke in Austin, Texas.

Another chance to hear Mark Lamarr visit The Broken Spoke, a much-loved western swing music venue in Austin, Texas, to hear about its history and culture.

As the South by Southwest takes place in Austin, Texas, there's another chance to hear Mark Lamarr visiting a much-loved local venue in 2005.

"The last of the true Texan dance halls and proud of it!" That's how owner James White describes 'The Broken Spoke', the club that he build on the outskirts of Texas more than 40 years ago.
With authentic Western swing bands, a wooden dance floor and even an abandoned tour bus parked out front, the 'Spoke' is the place to find genuine Texan cowboys, two-stepping couples and the occasional country music legend hanging out at the bar.
First opened in 1964 the club has played host to artists such as Bob Wills and his Texas playboys, Dolly Parton, George Strait and Willie Nelson, and also attracts Western swing revival acts, and the latest country bands to emerge from Austin's music scene.
In 2005 Mark Lamarr visited The Broken Spoke, and discovered the history behind its creation. With owner James White as his guide, he explored the museum housed in the back room of the bar which displays a range of country memorabilia including a beer can owned by Bob Wills and a cowboy hat worn by Broken Spoke regular Willie Nelson.
He also met the two-steppin' dancers, the beer drinkin' regulars and the honky-tonkin' musicians who fill the dance floor every weekend, including roots-based country singer Dale Watson and Austin-based band The Derailers.
With traditional Western swing echoing off the walls most nights, The Broken spoke is one of the key Texan venues celebrating this genre of music, and Mark explores the history of this country / jazz combination, with Asleep at the Wheel's front man and founder Ray Benson, whose band has helped keep alive the music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.

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