SOURCE: Contributed Content from IVPR/Maria Ivey
To borrow an oft-overused, but largely appropriate phrase: “If you build it, they will come.” And when Americana pioneer and proud Texan Robert Earl Keen recently announced a benefit concert to raise money for his beloved Hill Country neighbors, tickets sold out in under five minutes.
Today, Buc-ee’s Presents Robert Earl Keen & Friends: Applause for the Cause announced a partnership with Amazon Music, DIRECTV, Veeps, and YouTube to bring the August 28th benefit concert worldwide via free livestream. Keen, along with Tyler Childers, the trio of Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, and Jack Ingram, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and many, many more will take the stage at Whitewater Amphitheater outside of New Braunfels, Texas, for a very special night raising money for the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. For those watching from afar, there will be multiple online donations prompts throughout the stream.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity fueling this concert and grateful to Robert Earl Keen, Buc-ee’s, and every artist lending their voice to recovery,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. “Every ticket sold is a lifeline for families, businesses, and first responders working to rebuild. This is the Hill Country at its best—coming together to lift each other up.” Applause for the Cause’s partner, the donor management platform BetterUnite, will ensure all donations received from in-person fans and at-home viewers funnel directly to the Community Foundation. Click here to donate. Beaver Aplin, Founder of Buc-ee’s, shared, “Looking out for each other is just something Texans do. We’re proud of our state, and we’re honored to be involved.”
None of this would be possible without the generous support of Whitewater Amphitheater, Miller Pro AVL, C.C. Creations, illustrator Dorothy Nottingham, and, of course, Buc-ee’s, who have already pledged a one-million-dollar donation to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.
What: Buc-ee’s Presents Robert Earl Keen & Friends: Applause for the Cause.
Who: Robert Earl Keen with special guest Tyler Childers, a trio set from Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, and Jack Ingram, plus Cross Canadian Ragweed, Randy Rogers, Ryan Bingham, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and many, many more.
Where: Graciously hosted at Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, TX.
When: August 28th, livestream begins at 3:55 PM central time.
Why: In REK’s words, “Do as much as you can, for as long as you can” to support those who were affected by the July 4th flooding in Kerr County. All proceeds will be donated to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.
Tickets and how to watch: In-person tickets sold out in under 5 minutes however, there are many ways to watch from afar. We are grateful to our streaming partners Amazon Music, DIRECTV, Veeps, and YouTube (stream to be hosted on Robert Earl Keen’s YouTube channel).
Merch: Exclusive Applause For The Cause merchandise can be purchased in-person at Whitewater during the benefit, online at robertearlkeen.com, and via Veep’s streaming portal. 100% of benefit merchandise proceeds will be donated to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.
Watch on Amazon Music: Prime members can watch the Amazon Music livestream of Applause For The Cause on Prime Video. Fans can also stream the event on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, no subscription required. More information can be found here.
Amazon's work with Applause For The Cause exemplifies its continued efforts to aid Texas flood victims. To date, Amazon has donated more than 155,000 supplies to communities most impacted by the disaster and provided technological assistance to help search-and-rescue crews after the floods.
Watch on DIRECTV: Applause For The Cause will be free for anyone in the U.S. to watch through MyFree DIRECTV by downloading the DIRECTV app on mobile or streaming devices. DIRECTV will also make the livestream available to all consumer and business customers on channel 101.
Watch on Veeps: Applause For The Cause can be streamed for free via the Veeps app available on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, iOS, Samsung, and Android, or via veeps.com. Claim your free ticket at https://veeps.events/applause-for-the-cause. Veeps is also accepting donations for the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country which may be made any time leading up to the event, or during the broadcast.
Watch on YouTube: Access the livestream free of charge via Robert Earl Keen's YouTube channel. Fans do not need a YouTube account to watch.
For more information, please visit whitewaterrocks.com or robertearlkeen.com. Click here to donate.
About Robert Earl Keen: After 21 albums full of songs like “Gringo Honeymoon,” “Feelin’ Good Again,” and “Corpus Christi Bay,” thousands of shows, songs cut by artists including George Strait and The Highwaymen, and many well-deserved accolades like the BMI Troubadour Award, the Texas Heritage Songwriter Hall of Fame, and the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award—of which only 300 or so have been awarded from more than half-a-million graduates—it would be hard to find anybody in the same shoes who would willingly give it all up for a quiet life at home. As Keen projects from the stage every night, along with the help of every set of lungs in the room, “The road goes on forever, and the party never ends!”
Those words have never seemed more true for the Americana pioneer, and in Keen’s late-career renaissance, his party doesn’t just “never end,” it keeps growing. Just this year, Keen made an iconic, late-career debut on the Grand Ole Opry, was invited to join Tyler Childers for a sold out show at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl, and helped his old friends Turnpike Troubadours rattle Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater, all while continuing to headline his own shows in iconic venues, host his Americana Podcast: The 51st State, putting together a new book, and recording yet another new album.
About Buc-ee’s: Buc-ee’s is a chain of Texas-based travel centers known for its cleanliness and friendliness. More than just a fuel stop, Buc-ee’s caters to the traveling public with an extensive selection of unique items—from brisket sandwiches and Beaver Nuggets to branded clothing and souvenirs. Its spotless restrooms are world famous and a welcome stop for road-trippers and families alike. Buc-ee’s was started in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1982 and now has over 50 locations across 10 states.
About Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country: The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life across the Hill Country region by connecting charitable donors with community needs. Based in Kerrville and serving 10 counties, the Foundation manages a diverse portfolio of funds and grants that support local nonprofits, scholarships and community initiatives. Since its founding in 1982, the Foundation has worked to strengthen communities, inspire generosity, and create lasting positive impact for current and future generations.
About Amazon Music: Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalog of top ad-free podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs in HD, a growing catalog of Ultra HD and Spatial audio, and the world’s largest selection of audiobooks from Audible. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at amazon.com/music.
About DIRECTV: As a leader in sports and entertainment for 30 years, DIRECTV provides some of the television distribution industry’s best content aggregation, service, and user satisfaction, with or without a satellite. In 2023, DIRECTV elevated the customer experience by delivering Gemini, which can integrate customers’ content from their DIRECTV service and third-party platform subscriptions into a single one-stop, digital experience without switching TV inputs. As consumer behaviors change, DIRECTV is evolving its product with a sharp focus on delivering value to customers through genre-based programming packages, including sports and lifestyle content.
About Veeps: Veeps is the world’s leading streaming platform for live music and entertainment, where fans can connect with their favorite artists through live and on-demand concerts, comedy shows, and more. Launched in 2018 by Joel and Benji Madden, Veeps has streamed performances to millions of viewers worldwide for thousands of artists including Billie Eilish, Bob Dylan, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Foo Fighters, and Kings of Leon. Veeps has been named a Fast Company World’s Most Innovative Company, nominated for an Emmy, and holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest ticketed livestream performance by a solo male artist. Veeps content is available via veeps.com and apps on Apple TV, Roku, iOS, Samsung, and Android. Veeps is a part of Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV).