Weekend one closes Sunday with a legacy pop act and a hard-closing Austin trio

The final night of opening weekend Sunday at the Kennedy Outdoor Theater covers more ground than any other night of the first four days — a Toronto folk-soul singer, a new wave icon making his Kerrville debut, a rising Nashville country star, and an Austin swamp-funk band that has no interest in letting anyone go home quietly.

Julian Taylor opens at 7 p.m. The Toronto singer-songwriter of Indigenous and Caribbean heritage has built a reputation on both sides of the border for a warm, soulful voice and songs that move easily between acoustic Americana, roots, and R&B. His 2021 album The Ridge drew wide praise from the folk media world and established him as one of the more compelling singer-songwriters working in Canada today.

Marshall Crenshaw steps up at 8 p.m. in what is likely the weekend’s most purely fun set. The New York-based pop craftsman broke through in 1982 with “Someday, Someway,” became a beloved figure in the power pop movement of that era, and has spent four decades proving that a great hook is its own kind of timelessness. He also played Buddy Holly in the 1987 film La Bamba, which, at a folk festival, passes for a fun fact worth mentioning.

Madeline Edwards takes the 9 p.m. slot. California-born and Texas-raised, Edwards blends country with jazz, gospel, and soul in a way that has earned her the CMT “Next Women of Country” designation, a Billboard “Rookie of the Month” nod, and a spot on Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan’s 2025 Outlaw Tour. She is the kind of artist who tends to convert skeptics on first listen.

Austin trio Nether Hour closes at 10 p.m. Formed during SXSW 2018, the band of Bobby Flaco, Bishop, and Bercy fuses Louisiana swamp groove with Texas blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll into a live show that tends to escalate until it runs out of night. Their 2025 album Moonshine captures some of what they do, but their reputation is built on what happens in a room. Weekend one ends on the dance floor.

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

Sun, May 24

7 p.m. Julian Taylor

Julian Taylor Toronto-based folk and soul singer-songwriter of Indigenous and Caribbean heritage whose music spans acoustic Americana, roots, and R&B. His 2021 album The Ridge earned praise from folk media on both sides of the border, and he is known for a warm, soulful voice and songs that explore identity, family, and place.

8 p.m. Marshall Crenshaw

Marshall Crenshaw New York-based pop singer-songwriter who broke through in 1982 with the single “Someday, Someway” and became a beloved figure in the power pop and new wave movements of that era. Over four decades, Crenshaw has continued recording and touring, and he played Buddy Holly in the 1987 film La Bamba.

9 p.m. Madeline Edwards

Madeline Edwards California-born, Texas-raised singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Edwards blends country with jazz, gospel, and soul. Named a CMT “Next Women of Country” artist and featured as a Billboard “Rookie of the Month,” she made her national television debut at the 2021 CMA Awards alongside Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer. In 2025, she joined Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan on the Outlaw Tour.

10 p.m. Nether Hour

Nether Hour Austin swamp-funk rock trio of Bobby Flaco, Bishop, and Bercy, formed during SXSW 2018, the band fuses Louisiana groove with Texas blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. Nether Hour built their following through relentless performance in Austin’s music scene and released their second album, Moonshine, in March 2025.