Who Are The Babes?

Picture a bright, breathtaking, rolling mural as a backdrop to an all female storytelling string  band. The band is quirky and fun with a spirited sense of authentic Texas culture. 

Nellie, Hannah and Laura are planning to be on the road with their blossoming daughters throughout the State of Texas from early 2022 throughout Beto’s campaign, performing in as many small towns as humanly possible. Beto might make a special appearance here and there,  but the band will be traveling on their own schedule. This is a grassroots art tour in support of Beto becoming Governor and will remain wholly independent. 

The style of the music will be folksy and wholesome with a tinge of old time Western. A female fiddler will add a true Texas sound. Peppered in to every set will be a handful of traditional celebratory Texas tunes that will bring a sense of safety and comfort to the folks we are trying to reach– white Texas women from families that normally vote Republican. The band will tug at their heart strings with a compassionate message and empower them to think independently about why Beto is a different type of Democratic candidate to vote for. 

The songs will be clever, moving and at times funny. Over the next few weeks the Babes band is in a writing bootcamp to produce a series of policy songs meant to move the needle on the issues Beto cares most about– the energy grid, voter suppression, women’s health, immigration and guns.

Babes and Betoland will take a loving and friendly approach and it will tell relatable stories to Texas voters who do not normally discuss politics in their homes. Most important, it will be pure art!

How You Can Help Us 

Please know that $55k is an absolute minimum for us to commit to this project until the election.  To be clear, once we hit this goal we are committed and there is no turning back. Over the year, we will of course need additional funds (~$150,000) to sustain us being on the road for nearly a full year. As long as we hit our minimum goal of $55k, we are committed to this being our full time work, and have faith this will continue to get support. Among the three of us, we are giving up two full time teaching jobs, as well as a successful art career. We are also expecting to soon find a passionate fiddler who is ready to put her life on hold for this as well. We are beyond grateful for every single dollar that comes in to support this project, and we are putting our full hearts into it.

We either need to achieve this through the campaign, or while we are on the road touring. Thank you soo much for your support. Here’s where your money is going provided we at least raise $55k:

• Building out our bus to include a full stage, a safe riding/writing/practice area, equipment storage, a PA system and other sound equipment, our wardrobe and changing closet, stage lighting and a full sized hand painted professional mural that can be protected from taggers when the bus is parked. We will need it to be baby friendly, with a small sink and changing table. We will need to hire a full time bus driver. The cash will also enable all band members to have at least a small stipend for food, lodging and gas.
• NOTE: WE ARE NOT MAILING PERKS. THE CONTRIBUTION YOU’RE MAKING IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE PERK IS KNOWING YOU’RE HELPING.
• When you contribute any amount, you’ll get occasional invitations to special shows.
• When you contribute $100, you’ll get a beautiful t-shirt and weatherproof vinyl sticker or more designed by our in house artist, ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP AT ONE OF OUR SHOWS. When you see us on the road, please  Sorry, but we will not be able to mail any of the merchandise. We’ll be nomadic and focusing on the quality of the roadshow, as well as quality of our mothering. If you are from out of state and choose to support this project, we love you so much and know you get how important it is to turn Texas..
• We will get as much done as possible with what we raise. And of course, any thing we make beyond our goal will keep us going on the road for longer and provide security on the road.

The Impact

How do you feel about this whole democracy thing? In all seriousness, we truly aspire for your contribution to have as big of an impact on the course of Texas politics as anywhere you can put your money.

Risks & Challenges

We know that our schedule will be grueling and there will be unknown security risks as we explore this uncharted territory. Our bandmate moms come from progressive families who will join us off and on during our tour to provide a high level of support. Also if there are unforeseen weather events or security issues, we may be forced to pause the show at times. We will be seeking indoor spaces as backup performance venues (even homes, porches and college campuses). We are a team of determined and passionate Texan women who luckily have a vast support network. 

Other Ways You Can Help

If you don’t have money to help us out, we’d love it if you could share this video with friends and family who care about the future of Texas. Especially folks outside of Texas who understand what an outsized impact Texas has on the world today. 

We are seeking a bus driver and fiddle player who are as pumped about this as we are!

We are seeking homes and friends throughout the state who are interested in housing and/or hosting the babes throughout Texas, especially in predominantly red small towns that may not have airbnbs. 

Please help us spread continue to spread the word once we’re on the road in early 2022!