The JJ Garrett Band has been making waves and turning heads in the Texas Country scene since 2011. The group was formed in San Marcos by founding members JJ Villarreal of Fort Worth, TX and Doug Garrett of Grand Prairie, TX.
JJ and Doug met in 2007 while attending Texas State University where they were Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers. Doug had been honing his musical skills since he first picked up a guitar in 2003. Going home for a semester, JJ picked up and began practicing playing the guitar. Excited to learn that JJ also had an interest in music, the duo began rehearsing together and playing for friends at parties around the San Marcos area.
The group’s first public performance was at Jack’s Roadhouse in San Marcos, Texas in September 2011. After realizing their potential, they set out to expand their music careers. They created the name, the JJ Garrett Band, made up of JJ Villarreal’s first name and Doug Garrett’s last name. With the help of fellow musicians such as Matt Begley, of Matt Begley and Bitter Whiskey, the group learned how to run sound and book their own shows. Begley took the group on their first tour through Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado. The JJ Garrett Band also has a strong working relationship with Chris Perez of Captiva Entertainment, who has helped the band land slots on big music festivals. Perez has also worked with the group teaching them more about the business aspect of the music industry.
The JJ Garrett Band has been running strong since 2011 cutting their teeth in the scene and rubbing elbows with some of the big names in the industry. The group has shared the stage with Dale Watson, Asleep at the Wheel, Reckless Kelly, Zane Williams, Hal Ketchum, Micky and the Motorcars, The Band of Heathens, Midnight River Choir, and many more.
The group plays a Thursday residency at the Green Parrot, located on the San Marcos town square. Along with the weekday show, the band keeps traveling during the weekend playing their own gigs as well as well-known festivals. They have performed at South by Southwest, Shiner Music Fest, Blowin’ Off Steamboat Fest, Stranger Fest, the Laredo Menudo Bowl, Llano Crawfish Festival, and were also featured on the “San Antonio Living” TV program twice.