The city limits of Austin do not extend to Baton Rouge. Austin City Limits Music Festival begins Friday, Sept. 15 and boasts an impressive lineup including Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Willie Nelson. Bands included in the lineup, such as G. Love and Special Sauce and Randy Rogers Band, have played in Baton Rouge. But do not expect the same thing here anytime soon. “Baton Rouge is growing as a live music hub so I think a festival here would be pretty successful,” said Jenni Jenneman, anthropology junior, who is attending ACL for the second year. “It might not be as big as ACL but it would still offer something fresh to Baton Rouge.” Scott Gaskin of Green Frog Productions, which books both Austin and Baton Rouge bands, said Baton Rouge is large enough to hold a festival like ACL, but it would not be as successful as festivals elsewhere. “We are not like an Austin, we are not even close,” he said. “We don’t have the support of the people or the government.” Gaskin said there is not enough appreciation for original music in the city to make a festival successful. “Everybody wants to hear cover-bands,” he said. “It hinders the original bands. We have a few places like Spanish Moon, Northgate [Tavern} and Chelsea’s [Cafe] that still have original music, but that’s about it.” Gaskin said the “Third Street Throwdown” was an attempt at a festival in Baton Rouge, but said the city was not fit for it. “There were 2,000 people there and 150 arrests,” he said. “Cops were arresting people for walking around with beer cups.” Gaskin said Baton Rouge is too controlled by football in the fall to have a festival at this time. “It would be great for Baton Rouge to have one, but people of Baton Rouge don’t appreciate music enough,” he said.
—–Contact Kelly Caulk or Emily Patton at kcaulk@lsureveille.com or epatton@lsureveille.com