Downtown Conroe’s biggest party may still be a few months away, but an announcement of this year’s music lineup has stirred up regular festival goers.
The annual Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival is set Oct. 13-15 in downtown Conroe. On June 24, the music lineup was announced for the event.
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Tickets went on sale June 24 and may be purchased on the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival website.
Here are five things to know about the longtime event:
What is the Catfish Festival?
Inspired by Cajun music and the common desire to bring a festival to downtown Conroe, the 15 founding members first came together in 1990 to organize the first Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival.
Since then, the festival has grown to an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 visitors each year.
In 1995, the 74th state Legislature designated the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival as the official Cajun Catfish Festival of the state of Texas.
The nonprofit Friends of Conroe hosts the event with proceeds going back to scholarships for high school seniors and for the group’s Friends Feeding Friends event each Thanksgiving Day.
Friday’s music lineup
On June 24, the music lineup for this year was posted on the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival Facebook page.
The DeMontrond Stage brings Coffey Anderson from 9 to 10 p.m. and Randall King from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
Anderson is Country singer-songwriter and internet personality, originally from Bangs, Texas. He has a reality series on Netflix titled “Country Ever After.”
Randall King grew up in West Texas with early influences from John Anderson, George Strait and Alan Jackson. In 2022, Country Now named King an “Artist to Watch.”
On the Cajun Stage, Platinum Players take the stage from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Bayou Roux continues its tradition of playing Friday night on the Cajun Stage from 10 p.m. to midnight.
The Houston-based Bayou Roux is a festival favorite having jammed at the event for many years.
Saturday’s music lineup
On the DeMontrond Stage Saturday, music kicks off at 6 p.m. with Texas Flood, a Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute group.
From 8 to 9:30 p.m. brings Whitey Morgan and The 78s.
Blackberry Smoke is the headliner from 10 to 11:30 p.m. Blackberry Smoke is an American rock band formed in Atlanta in 2000. In addition to playing music, the band has raised more than $1 million for children’s cancer research.
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The Cajun Stage Saturday brings Keyun & Zydeco Masters from 2 to 4 p.m., Brian Jack from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wayne Toups and Zydecajun from 8 to 9:30 p.m. and headliner Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie from 10 p.m. to midnight.
All are festival favorites with Keyun & Zydeco Masters, Wayne Toups and Geno Delafose returning to the event for many years.
Sunday at the festival
Music for the DeMontrond Stage is still to be determined but Hispanic Family Day will take place on the Cajun Stage from 2 to 11 p.m. Sunday. Hispanic Family Day was a new addition to the festival in 2022 with several Tejano bands performing.
The music lineup for Hispanic Family Day has not been released yet.
Catfish Got Talent
On June 24, festival organizers kicked off a new event Catfish Got Talent. On that afternoon, a series of bands were invited to play at The Table at Madeley in downtown Conroe with hopes of landing a spot at the festival.
The winners including The Will Carter Band, Tyler Trantham, Eyes Like Fire and Ty Laramore won a spot on the DeMontrond Stage.
The date and time of these bands performances has not been set yet.
