Festival’s second night ranges from fingerstyle guitar to Austin rock

The Kerrville Folk Festival’s second night Friday at the Kennedy Outdoor Theater opens with one of the most singular instrumentalists on the acoustic music circuit and closes with one of Austin’s hardest-driving live bands — with two strong acts in between.

Yasmin Williams leads off at 7 p.m. in a set that is likely to stop first-timers cold. The Northern Virginia guitarist plays with her instrument across her lap, building solo performances from a layered combination of fingerstyle technique, lap-tapping, kalimba and tap shoes that produce something closer to a full ensemble than a solo act. She began playing guitar in eighth grade after beating the video game Guitar Hero 2 on expert level; she later studied music theory and composition at NYU, where she developed her unorthodox approach. Her 2021 album Urban Driftwood earned widespread critical praise.

Dallas alt-country singer-songwriter Joshua Ray Walker takes the 8 p.m. slot. Walker’s music is rooted in working-class Texas life and delivered with a raw, narrative directness that has earned him a devoted audience in the Americana world. His albums Wish You Were Here and See You Next Time established him as one of the more compelling voices in contemporary Texas country.

Portland, Ore.-based folk-pop ensemble Kuinka performs at 9 p.m., bringing layered harmonies and a communal, danceable energy that has made them a festival circuit staple. The band blends indie folk with roots and pop elements and is known for a warm, inclusive stage presence.

The Bright Light Social Hour closes the night at 10 p.m. The Austin indie rock band has spent two decades refining a high-energy psychedelic sound that pulls from funk, soul, and classic rock, and they remain one of the more reliable live acts to come out of the Austin scene. Friday night ends loud.

The festival runs through June 7. Tickets are available at kerrvillefolkfestival.org.

Fri, May 22

7 p.m. Yasmin Williams

Yasmin Williams Northern Virginia acoustic fingerstyle guitarist known for a playing technique she developed at NYU while earning a degree in music theory and composition. Williams plays with the guitar across her lap, layering lap-tapping, kalimba, tap shoes, and harp guitar into solo instrumental performances that blend folk, jazz, R&B, and West African influences. Her 2021 album Urban Driftwood received wide critical praise; she began playing guitar in eighth grade after beating the video game Guitar Hero 2 on expert level.

8 p.m. Joshua Ray Walker

Joshua Ray Walker Dallas alt-country singer-songwriter known for raw, narrative songs rooted in working-class Texas life. His albums Wish You Were Here (2019) and See You Next Time (2020) earned praise from country and Americana critics for their cinematic storytelling and classic honky-tonk aesthetic.

9 p.m. Kuinka

Kuinka Portland, Ore., folk-pop ensemble known for layered vocal harmonies, danceable acoustic arrangements, and a warm, communal performance style. The band has toured extensively and released several albums that blend indie folk with roots and pop elements.

10 p.m. The Bright Light Social Hour

The Bright Light Social Hour Austin indie rock band formed in the mid-2000s and known for a psychedelic-tinged, high-energy sound that draws from funk, soul, and classic rock. The band has released several critically praised albums and built a reputation as one of Austin’s most electrifying live acts.