April in Central Texas marks the beginning of music festival season, and it is also the time when strong showers roll into the area. 

That contrast played out over the weekend at Two Step Inn in Georgetown, a festival that thrives on keeping things simple. It’s country music at the center, but it’s also about slowing things down, being outside, and enjoying a couple of days that don’t feel overly planned, even when the skies have other plans. 

Day One

Saturday kicked off with overcast skies and a hope that the showers would stay light or miss San Gabriel Park altogether. However, when a cold front rolled in later that afternoon, the festival was paused and then eventually canceled for the day due to lightning in the area. Fans were left disappointed when headliner Brooks & Dunn, Goo Goo Dolls, and other acts never took the stage. 

Prior to the weather bringing an early end to the day, attendees were treated to sets from artists like Wade Bowen, Muscadine Bloodline, and Dallas’ BigXthaPlug, whose songs “Texas” and “Mmhmm” fired up the crowd. As Kaitlin Butts and Shenandoah began taking the stage, screens alerted fans that there was “weather in the area.” Before Kaitlin Butts’ Yee-Hoedown could really get started, it was over. Midway through her cover of Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine,” the audio cut out and the performance was stopped. 

Even though their official sets were canceled, both artists still found a way to connect with the crowd. Shenandoah stepped out in front of the stage and led fans in singing “Two Dozen Roses,” while on the Pony Up stage, Kaitlin Butts brought out friends including Wyatt Flores, Evan Honer, The Castellows, and Elizabeth Nichols for an impromptu acoustic moment. Together, they ran through songs like “John Deere Green” and “Two Dozen Roses,” creating one of the more memorable moments of the day. 

Festivalgoers held out hope that music might continue, gathering near the Big River stage as updates came in. An announcement said all remaining acts were canceled except for Brooks & Dunn, but ultimately they were also unable to perform as the weather never cleared enough for the festival to resume. 

Day Two

Day two of Two Step Inn felt like a reset in the best way. After a storm-soaked Saturday, the skies cleared over Georgetown and San Gabriel Park came back to life early. You could feel it walking in, people a little more eager, a little more locked in, like they weren’t going to take a clear day for granted. The grounds held up well, the sun came out without being overbearing, and the whole place settled into that easy rhythm the festival does so well. 

The day started with The Creekers, whose blend of bluegrass, country, and a touch of pop felt like the right way to ease into Sunday. Their song “Tennessee” has been gaining traction, climbing Spotify’s Viral 50 USA, and the crowd responded. Later in the day, The Castellows returned to Georgetown and brought out Wyatt Flores, giving him a chance to play after missing his set due to bad weather the day before. 

One of Texas country’s favorites, Randy Rogers Band set the tone heading into the later part of the day at Two Step Inn, drawing a strong crowd and delivering the kind of steady, familiar set that felt right at home in Central Texas. 

From there, Tedeschi Trucks Band shifted the pace, leaning into a slower, blues-heavy set that gave the music room to breathe. Susan Tedeschi’s vocals carried across the park while Derek Trucks’ guitar work pulled people in without needing any extra flash.

Red Clay Strays followed with a little more edge, blending southern country, with high energy rockabilly, and mixed with gospel-influenced ballads. The crowd fed off that rawness, and it never felt overpolished or forced. It just felt honest, which matched the tone of the weekend and kept things moving in the right direction. 

During the ”Randy Travis: More Than Life” tribute, fans were reminded of the legacy of Randy Travis. After suffering a stroke in 2013 that impacted his ability to speak and sing, Travis still took part in the moment. James Dupré performed his songs alongside Travis’ band, and in a powerful closing moment, Travis joined in for the final “Amen” of Forever and Ever Amen. It was simple, but it hit. 

At its core, Two Step Inn is a country music festival, but it’s never been just one thing. Sunday night’s headliner, Chris Stapleton, felt like the clearest example of that. His sound is rooted in country but leans into soul and blues in a way that feels natural. You can hear shades of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson, but it never feels like he’s trying to recreate anything. It just sounds like him. 

That carried into his set. No big production, no extra flash, just a tight band and a performance that felt personal. He opened with “Bad as I Used to Be” and moved through songs like “Millionaire,” “Starting Over,” and the stripped-down “Cold.” He closed the night with “Broken Halos” and his take on David Allan Coe’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” It wasn’t overdone, and it didn’t need to be. 

Bacardi brought its Casa Bacardi bar and a menu of Caribbean-inspired cocktails made just for the weekend. It felt like the right kind of stop once the sun came back out–-easy, refreshing, and right in line with the laid-back pace of the day. The Two Step Colada and the rum punch stood out, especially if you were looking to cool off between sets. And if you’re heading to Lollapalooza in June, it’s worth keeping an eye out for Casa Bacardi there, too. It’s a good place to reset for a bit before jumping back into the crowd.

Two Step Inn 2026 didn’t go exactly as planned, but that’s part of doing a spring festival in Central Texas. The weather may have cut Saturday short, but it also made Sunday feel a little more appreciated, a little more intentional. What stood out wasn’t just the lineup, it was how the artists and the crowd adapted, finding moments even when things didn’t go smoothly. If anything, this year showed that Two Step Inn isn’t just built on perfect conditions, it’s built on the kind of experience that can hold up even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. And with the way it bounced back on day two, there’s no reason to think it won’t keep growing into one of the more reliable festival weekends in Texas for years to come.

Did you miss out on this year’s Two Step inn? Here are some highlights from the festival:

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Cover Photo Roger Ho

Brian Maass is a native Austinite, writer and photographer covering live music, travel, and culture, with a passion for storytelling through the lens of his camera. He lives in Round Rock with his wife, Dana Kent Maass, and their rescue dog, Chester. Instagram @brian_maass_adventures.