ACL preview: Farmer Jason

courtesy Farmer Jason 

Jason Ringenberg, of Jason and the Scorchers, may not be playing at this year’s ACL Festival, but expect a visit from his “twin brother” Farmer Jason, who plays rock and roll for children, on the Austin Kiddie Limits stage. (Bonus points if you can guess by the end of this preview if they’re not the same person). We lassoed Farmer Jason to talk about his brother, children’s music, and his upcoming performance at ACL Fest.

That Other Paper What can we expect to see from Farmer Jason this year?

Farmer Jason Well, it’s gonna be a children’s show. I’ve been doing that a lot these past several years. Y’know, I used to be in a band called Jason and the Scorchers. Played Austin a lot, as a matter of fact, over the last 25 years or so. But now I’m doing a children’s show. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be on the kid’s stage — Austin Kiddie Limits, as they call it, and I think that’s pretty clever.

TOP I took a look at your track list, and it seems like some of the songs are educational.

FJ Yeah, but not too much. I think it’s still fun — that’s the whole idea. I want folks to have fun at my shows, not just be educated. I’m not a school teacher, but I do try to have a little bit of a message for the kids.

TOP So what do you hope that the kids will take out of the show, then?

FJ I’m quite proud of the fact that it’s the real deal for a children’s performer. I’m solo, for one thing, which is quite unusual for children’s performers. To play solo and not use backing tracks or CDs and video screens — it’s just me and my acoustic guitar, entertaining the kids. I think that they get a real musical experience, almost like they’re at a coffee house.

TOP You said that you’ve been to Austin quite a few times with Jason and the Scorchers. Do you have any favorite places to go when you’re in Austin?

courtesy Farmer Jason 

FJ Well, you can’t go wrong eating Mexican food in Austin. But mostly I like to play music in Austin. It’s a great town to play live music.

TOP Do you have a favorite venue?

FJ I like the Hole in the Wall a lot. Antone’s is good, too — fun place. I’ve had a Farmer Jason shows there, and a Jason and the Scorchers show there two years ago.

TOP Was it confusing growing up in a house with an identical twin also named Jason?

FJ Well, because I was Farmer Jason, that helped separate the two of us.

TOP Jason and Farmer Jason?

FJ Exactly. You know, I’ve never been asked that question.

TOP So what else should we know about Farmer Jason?

FJ I just feel like my show gives kids something real positive. It gives them a good role model for musicians and how to experience music. I think it shows them what it means to be into music and to play music.