Abilene People: Austin Allsup

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – On this episode of Big Country Conversations, we’re joined by Texas musician and Clyde resident Austin Allsup, one of the driving forces behind The Big Time Bash, coming to Baird, Texas, on October 18. This noon to midnight celebration promises 12 hours of live music, food, and fun, featuring more than 10 incredible bands including William Clark Green, Dexter and the Moonrocks, No Justice, and Prophets and Outlaws. The Big Time Bash is more than just a concert — it’s a Texas-sized homecoming dedicated

Austin, originally from Fort Worth, has carved out a notable career of his own in the Texas music scene. A talented singer, songwriter, and performer, he earned national attention as a Top 10 finalist on NBC’s The Voice, where he performed on Blake Shelton’s team. He continues to tour across the country and is gearing up for a major hometown concert this November at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth.

Music runs deep in Austin’s roots. He is the son of Tommy Allsup, the Grammy Award–winning guitarist and producer whose name is forever tied to one of rock and roll’s most legendary stories. In 1959, Tommy famously flipped a coin with Ritchie Valens for a seat on the plane with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper Richardson who had taken Waylon Jennings’s seat. The flight tragically crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa, on what became known as “The Day the Music Died.” Tommy went on to build a Hall of Fame career, performing with icons such as Bob Wills, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Roy Orbison, and Willie Nelson.

In this conversation, Austin shares memories of growing up in a musical family, stories from the road, and what inspired him to help create The Big Time Bash. It’s an episode filled with heart, history, and harmony—a reminder of how music connects generations and can even, as Austin says, “save a soul.”