Sabinal Musician Kay O’Neill Drops In During Rustic Charm Grand Opening Broadcast

Press release from Uvalde Radio

03-09-26

A rainy afternoon couldn’t dampen the energy in downtown Sabinal on March 7, as the grand opening celebration for Rustic Charm by The Ranch Wife brought together local businesses, musicians, and community members. During a live broadcast from the event, Robert Miguel of Uvalde Radio welcomed a surprise guest to the microphone—Sabinal native and rising musician Kay O’Neill.

O’Neill had just wrapped up a performance earlier that afternoon at Fort Clark Days in nearby Brackettville. After finishing her set, she made the short drive to Sabinal to show her support for the newly reopened boutique and to stop by the live radio broadcast.

“We got rained on the last 30 minutes,” O’Neill said of her performance at the festival. “But it was so much fun—the crowd was amazing.”

The sudden shift in weather created some chaos at the outdoor event, with wind knocking over a canopy and performers scrambling to protect equipment. Still, O’Neill described the show as a success and praised the enthusiastic audience that attended the long-running living history festival.

Though currently attending college, O’Neill remains closely connected to her hometown music scene. The Sabinal native has been performing regularly across the Texas Hill Country, building a reputation as a talented young singer-songwriter.

In the interview, she shared that recent performances have taken her to venues in towns like Kerrville, Bandera, and Comfort. One of her most consistent gigs is a weekly Thursday night performance at La Calabria Pizzeria, where she hosts an open jam-style music night.

“It’s been great meeting so many other musicians,” O’Neill said. “That’s probably been one of the best parts.”

She also announced an upcoming milestone performance—her first appearance at the well-known San Antonio venue Sam’s Burger Joint, where she will open for a friend’s band later this month.

While music remains an important passion, O’Neill is also approaching the final stretch of her college career. She revealed during the interview that she is entering her final year of school and studying accounting.

“I’m in the home stretch,” she said. “One more semester.”

As she looks toward graduation, O’Neill is currently seeking internship opportunities in accounting while continuing to perform and write music. She hopes to keep music as a meaningful part of her life even as she explores professional opportunities in her field of study.

“I’m going to leave my plans open and let God bring whatever I need to be doing,” she said.

Fans of O’Neill’s music won’t have to wait long for new material. She shared that she was scheduled to record the final vocals and guitar parts for a new demo the day after the interview, with hopes of releasing it within the next month or two—potentially in time for summer.

During the broadcast, listeners also heard her song “Bluebonnets,” which she wrote during an earlier college spring break after a reflective drive through Texas wildflower country.

“I realized I was trying to hold onto things that I had already grown out of,” O’Neill explained about the inspiration behind the song.

O’Neill said she was excited to see the new Rustic Charm store open in downtown Sabinal and praised its welcoming atmosphere.

“I think it’s amazing,” she said. “It’s super convenient—they have so many things for people going to the river, which I feel like we really needed here.”

She also complimented the shop’s new owner and her enthusiasm for the community.

“The few times we’ve talked, she’s been super sweet and really wants to see the community blossom,” O’Neill said.

The grand opening celebration for Rustic Charm by The Ranch Wife included live music, vendors, and giveaways while Uvalde Radio broadcast live from the event throughout the afternoon.

O’Neill is also expected to appear later this year at Uvalde Radio’s seasonal Friday Night Live showcase series in Uvalde, continuing her growing presence on stages across the region.