Gruene Hall Alive with Music again
By NICOLAS SABALA, Contributor —
It’s October 2020 and I find myself driving in the middle of a Trump Train of lifted pickup trucks, honking loudly, as I try to get to a live music event at Gruene Hall, Texas’ oldest dancehall and a cherished gathering place for Country and Americana music fans. I don’t know if it’s the global pandemic, the presidential election, the full moon or the combination of the three that has Gruene, Texas, in a fervor of excitement. As I approach the crosswalk, a middle-aged woman jumps into the street as pickup trucks go by, and starts dancing with an American flag in one hand and a drink in the other.
Once I get passed the jeering crowd that has gathered in front of the hall, I put my mask on before entering. A rockabilly beat is thumping loudly out of the dancehall, and I cannot wait to attend my first live music show since COVID-19 turned our lives upside-down. The Kevin Fox Band is on stage playing to a smallish audience of people who are seated at tables six feet apart with no more than six seats to a table. There is no room for dancing but in this day and age just being at a live music event will suffice.
While the band whirls out its rock’n’roll numbers for grateful listeners, honking and rabble rousing outside fills the space in-between songs. The band then shifts into the rockabilly classic cover of Brian Setzer’s swingy “Jump Jive an’ Wail.” We can’t dance but the urge to jump and rock is hard to resist. As the song plays, it’s easy to imagine a full dance floor of gyrating bodies responding to the familiar beat.
Gruene Hall was built in 1878 by Henry (Heinrich) D. Gruene in what is now the historical town of Gruene which is a part of New Braunfels, Texas. The iconic 6,000-square-foot dancehall has been internationally recognized as a tourist destination and a stop for many major recording artists as well as up-and-coming ones. Not much has changed in the building since it was built 142 years ago. Signs from the 1930s and 40s still adorn the premises while photos of stars such as Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, who have performed here in the past, are looking down at us from the walls.
Many careers have been jump-started in Gruene Hall, most notably, those of singer-songwriters Townes Van Zandt, Lyle Lovett and Ryan Bingham. Gruene Hall was also used as a set for the 1996 film, “Michael,” starring John Travolta.
“During the last several years, performers who are now at the top of their careers, like George Strait and Garth Brooks, have come back to do shows here,” said Mary Jane Nalley, who co-owns the place with Pat Molak. “Simply the thrill of having two of the top artists in their genre was so exciting for us, but to witness all the love coming from the fans for these two artists was something quite exceptional to see and experience.”
Like so many performing arts venues, Gruene Hall closed its doors back in mid-March as COVID-19 swept across the nation. After a brief reopening from May 4th to June 25th, the venue shut down again for a while, reopening again on Sept. 3rd.
“With each reopening, we have diligently followed the governor’s guidelines and are dedicated to the health and well-being of our staff and customers,” noted Nalley. “All staff members must receive a daily health screening and wear masks. All customers must wear masks unless seated. No dancing is permitted. We’ve put tables with chairs in the dancehall and spaced them 6 feet apart and customers must remain seated inside. We also have hand sanitizer available in several locations throughout the Hall and beer garden and have increased all sanitation in relation to restrooms, surfaces and common touch points.”
And music fans have flocked back to the place they love. “We have a loyal and wide following. They were eager to get back here for live music and fellowship,” she said.
One would think it would be a daunting task to book artists amid a pandemic and overall shutdown of the live music industry but not for the owners of Gruene Hall. Molak books the major acts, while a long-time staff member, Tracie Ferguson, books artists for the daily free shows. “Due to our 45 years in business, there are many long-term relations that have developed,” noted Nalley.
Indeed. Nalley came from San Antonio to Gruene back in the mid-1970s to help Molak start and run the budding business project. She has since become a leader in the New Braunfels community and was the person chosen to present George Strait with the Texan of the Year Award in 2018 when he was honored for helping raise millions to assist the victims of Hurricane Harvey. She was also featured in an episode of the Netflix-Hulu series “Woman Abroad,” offering her perspective on Texas music and dance-hall culture.
And Gruene Hall continues to be a gathering place for friends, family and musicians.
“It’s where generations have gathered together, whether it be folks from our local community or visitors from around the state or beyond. They come to hear live music, dance, have a beer or two with old friends, see where music legends have played, celebrate a special occasion or make new friends. There’s just something about live music and places like this that bring people together,” Nalley said.
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To see what’s coming up go to www.gruenehall.com and click on Calendar. To purchase tickets, call 830-629-5077; for general info call 830-606-1281; Gruene Hall’s address: 1281 Gruene Rd., New Braunfels, TX 78130