This Sunday, Austin is turning up the volume for a celebration that is about more than great music. The first-ever All Abilities Rock Music Fest will spotlight live performances, disability pride and the power of music to connect people of all abilities.
Hosted by the Music Moves Mountains Foundation, the festival will take place at Central Machine Works from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and will feature a lineup of bands championing inclusion and accessibility in the live music world.
Founder Julie Frost, and Blue Mist band member Robert Kelley joined Trevor Scott and Sierra Waggoner to share more about this inclusive music event.
Founder Julie Frost, and Blue Mist band member Robert Kelley joined Trevor Scott and Sierra Waggoner to share more about this inclusive music event.
A Mission Rooted in Personal Experience
Founder Julie Frost said the organization began after her son was diagnosed with several disorders and responded strongly to music.
“Music was always something he responded to and has helped him get through so much,” Frost said. “I researched music therapy and adaptive music education, but there weren’t a lot of resources.”
That experience inspired her to launch a nonprofit focused on creating more opportunities for people with disabilities to learn, perform and enjoy music.
A Festival Built for Everyone
All Abilities Rock has been part of the Music Moves Mountains Foundation’s work for 14 years, originally as a series of sensory-friendly concerts for people with special needs and their families.
“This is a welcoming, accepting, safe atmosphere to enjoy live music,” Frost said.
This year, the event is expanding into a full festival after the organization received a City of Austin Live Music Fund grant.
The timing also coincides with Disability Pride Month and National Disability Independence Day, making the event both a celebration and a statement about inclusion.
Music Moves Mountains’ first-ever All-Abilities Rock Music Fest!
Music With a Message
One of the featured performers is Blue Mist, a band made up of blind musicians who use their platform to break stereotypes and advocate for awareness.
“We always try to promote things that have to do with disability,” said band member Robert Kelly. “It’s better to ask and get the answer from somebody who’s experiencing that.”
Blue Mist blends jazz, R&B and classic rock, and Kelly says the band is proof that talent should never be limited by assumptions.
“If given the opportunity, we can do anything,” he said.
More Than a Concert
The festival lineup also includes:
Yesterday and Today, formerly known as the Beetle Boys
Eddie Ray-Ban, an inclusive band featuring musicians with a variety of disabilities
Blue Mist, closing out the event with dance-friendly tunes
Frost said the festival is about showcasing what people can do when given the chance.
Music Moves Mountains’ All Abilities Rock Music Fest celebrates music and inclusion
Why It Matters
For Frost and Kelly, the message is clear: disability rights are civil rights, and the music community should reflect that.
“It’s important for people to educate themselves,” Frost said. “There are plenty of opportunities.”
The All Abilities Rock Music Fest takes place Sunday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Central Machine Works.
For more information, visit MusicMovesMountains.org.
Music Moves Mountains’ first-ever All-Abilities Rock Music Fest!