ArtistDirect News
Fort Worth Musicians Take Center Stage at 6th Annual Cowtown GitDown in Nashville
On Thursday, September 17, 2026, Tennessee Brew Works will become a sonic bridge between Texas and Tennessee as the city’s top musicians take the stage at the 6th Annual Cowtown GitDown, a free showcase that runs from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and forms part of the Americana Music Association’s AMERICANAFEST in Nashville.
The event is the brainchild of Visit Fort Worth and its music arm, Hear Fort Worth. According to Visit Fort Worth, the showcase is a strategic destination‑marketing investment that places Fort Worth’s creative community before “thousands of artists, industry leaders, media, and fans from around the nation.”
Eleven local acts will light up the venue, including Oscar‑nominated Abraham Alexander, Matthew McNeal, .Marcel., Mollie Danel, Bolton Serunjogi, Simon Flory, Michael Lee & The Wartime Limousine, Cut Throat Finches, Lincoln Swanzy, TRVR?, and Christian Carlos Carvajal & The 300.
Matthew McNeal, one of the performers, said, “Fort Worth gave me a foundation I couldn’t have built anywhere else; the community, the venues, and the people who show up for each other.” He added that Americana “takes everything happening in Fort Worth and puts it directly in front of the people who need to see it,” and that events like this reshape perceptions of the city for musicians deciding where to build a career.
Tom Martens, vice president of creative & music for Visit Fort Worth, echoed that sentiment, noting that when Fort Worth artists perform at AMERICANAFEST, they are “not just performing, they’re serving as ambassadors for a city with a deep, authentic music identity.”
Beyond the music, attendees will enjoy complimentary food and cocktails from La Pulga Spirits, a Fort Worth‑based distillery, and can customize t‑shirts on site courtesy of Printed Threads. 95.9 The Ranch, Texas’s largest Americana radio station, will record interviews and generate content for future broadcasts.
Hear Fort Worth, launched in 2016, supports the local music community through music‑travel grants, national‑festival showcases, and partnerships with studios and radio. In 2023 it partnered with JPS Health Network to launch Sound Care, a program that offers affordable healthcare for musicians and industry workers in Tarrant County.
Fort Worth’s ties to Americana run deep. The city became the first Texas municipality to receive the music‑friendly designation from the Texas Music Office in 2017, and in 2025 the Americana Music Association named it its Spotlight City at AMERICANAFEST, acknowledging the city’s growing influence in the genre.
The Cowtown GitDown will feature a full slate of performances from the eleven artists, with each act scheduled to play multiple sets throughout the day. The showcase remains free to the public, and visitors can also explore Tennessee Brew Works’ craft‑beer selection and local food offerings.
Visit Fort Worth’s broader strategy is to promote the city as a premier business and leisure destination with thriving creative, cultural, and commercial centers. By placing Fort Worth musicians on a national stage, the city seeks to attract industry attention, media coverage, and new audiences to its local music scene.
As the event approaches, organizers have confirmed that the lineup will remain unchanged and that Tennessee Brew Works will stay open for the full schedule. The Cowtown GitDown is expected to draw attendees from across the United States, including industry professionals and Americana fans.
The 6th Annual Cowtown GitDown will conclude on September 17, 2026, with a final performance at 7:00 p.m. 95.9 The Ranch will document the event and share the footage across social media and radio platforms. The showcase underscores the enduring partnership between Fort Worth’s music community and national Americana platforms, cementing the city’s role as a key contributor to the genre’s evolving landscape.
The event is the brainchild of Visit Fort Worth and its music arm, Hear Fort Worth. According to Visit Fort Worth, the showcase is a strategic destination‑marketing investment that places Fort Worth’s creative community before “thousands of artists, industry leaders, media, and fans from around the nation.”
Eleven local acts will light up the venue, including Oscar‑nominated Abraham Alexander, Matthew McNeal, .Marcel., Mollie Danel, Bolton Serunjogi, Simon Flory, Michael Lee & The Wartime Limousine, Cut Throat Finches, Lincoln Swanzy, TRVR?, and Christian Carlos Carvajal & The 300.
Matthew McNeal, one of the performers, said, “Fort Worth gave me a foundation I couldn’t have built anywhere else; the community, the venues, and the people who show up for each other.” He added that Americana “takes everything happening in Fort Worth and puts it directly in front of the people who need to see it,” and that events like this reshape perceptions of the city for musicians deciding where to build a career.
Tom Martens, vice president of creative & music for Visit Fort Worth, echoed that sentiment, noting that when Fort Worth artists perform at AMERICANAFEST, they are “not just performing, they’re serving as ambassadors for a city with a deep, authentic music identity.”
Beyond the music, attendees will enjoy complimentary food and cocktails from La Pulga Spirits, a Fort Worth‑based distillery, and can customize t‑shirts on site courtesy of Printed Threads. 95.9 The Ranch, Texas’s largest Americana radio station, will record interviews and generate content for future broadcasts.
Hear Fort Worth, launched in 2016, supports the local music community through music‑travel grants, national‑festival showcases, and partnerships with studios and radio. In 2023 it partnered with JPS Health Network to launch Sound Care, a program that offers affordable healthcare for musicians and industry workers in Tarrant County.
Fort Worth’s ties to Americana run deep. The city became the first Texas municipality to receive the music‑friendly designation from the Texas Music Office in 2017, and in 2025 the Americana Music Association named it its Spotlight City at AMERICANAFEST, acknowledging the city’s growing influence in the genre.
The Cowtown GitDown will feature a full slate of performances from the eleven artists, with each act scheduled to play multiple sets throughout the day. The showcase remains free to the public, and visitors can also explore Tennessee Brew Works’ craft‑beer selection and local food offerings.
Visit Fort Worth’s broader strategy is to promote the city as a premier business and leisure destination with thriving creative, cultural, and commercial centers. By placing Fort Worth musicians on a national stage, the city seeks to attract industry attention, media coverage, and new audiences to its local music scene.
As the event approaches, organizers have confirmed that the lineup will remain unchanged and that Tennessee Brew Works will stay open for the full schedule. The Cowtown GitDown is expected to draw attendees from across the United States, including industry professionals and Americana fans.
The 6th Annual Cowtown GitDown will conclude on September 17, 2026, with a final performance at 7:00 p.m. 95.9 The Ranch will document the event and share the footage across social media and radio platforms. The showcase underscores the enduring partnership between Fort Worth’s music community and national Americana platforms, cementing the city’s role as a key contributor to the genre’s evolving landscape.