Blue Water Highway

Blue Water Highway is an Austin-based Americana/folk rock band known for their soulful harmony singing, thoughtful songwriting, and live performances that are just as captivating and entertaining as their albums. The band's core consists of childhood friends Zack Kibodeaux and Greg Essington, who named the group after their coastal hometown highway that runs from the mouth of the Brazos River to Galveston, TX. Over a decade of national and international touring—from headlining shows to tours with Bob Seger, Reckless Kelly, Shane Smith and the Saints, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Johnny Lang, and Turnpike Troubadours--they’ve made four full-length albums of original music blending modern and traditional sounds to create something timeless and familiar, yet fresh and original. Their third album, Paper Airplanes, was produced by Cason Cooley (NEEDTOBREATHE, Drew Holcomb) and led to The Austin-American Statesman hailing them as “one of Austin’s best Americana acts,” with “legitimate national potential.” In 2023 they released their most ambitious project to date—a self-produced album entitled, Year of the Dragon. In the Southern Gothic vein, it revealed a grittier side of the band, while still preserving the beauty, hope and soulful energy that has become their signature. Their fifth album, Waiting on a Wonder—produced by Brian Douglas Phillips (David Ramirez, Thomas Csorba)—full of sunny harmonies and sultry, summer grooves was released to much acclaim in 2025.