Revelle Retreat Wraps Up

About 30 battle worn veterans descended on Lavaca County’s TR Ranch last Saturday for the annual Reveille Retreat, a weeklong intensive songwriter workshop designed specifically for combat veterans.

It’s all part of the nonprofit Soldier Songs and Voices, launched a few years back by professional songwriters Kevin and Dustin Welch to bring the healing power of music and music to those who can use it most.

We joined up with them for the evening concert on Sunday, in which retreatants got to hear from songwriters Susan Gibson (think Dixie Chicks and Wide Open Spaces) and walking music legend George Ensle, who has shared stages with the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver since the 1960s.

The retreat wraps up today (Thursday, Nov. 9) with performances by all who attended featuring the all new songs that they wrote and many, professionally recorded with some of the top musicians and songwriting talents just a stone’s throw way.

In adddition, the aspiring music artists learn from some of the best in the profession in various classes taught through the day. Steve Earl was one of this year’s teachers.

They gathered Sunday inside the TR Ranch’s Bunkhouse Great Room, located not far from Moravia, just off FM 957. Tom, the week’s host chef, an incredible songwriting and live music fan, and owner of the TR Ranch.

It’s a big week for veterans here in Lavaca County, with the traditional school program planned Friday morning in Moulton (see related story), and on Saturday evening, the Williams Ranch, just down the road near Breslau, is hosting its annual veterans hunt for entire other group of combat veterans, and after, they gather for the annual veterans barbecue feast.