The Heart of Texas Country Music Museum is hosting a special concert featuring Bakersfield’s The Soda Crackers on Sunday, November 1, at 3:00 PM. The concert is free, but donations to the museum will be accepted. The concert will be held at the museum located at 1701 South Bridge Street in Brady, Texas.
The Soda Crackers are a Bakersfield, California–based five‑piece band blending the authentic “Bakersfield Sound” with Western Swing, dedicated to reviving the town’s rich country music heritage.
Formed in 2021, The Soda Crackers grew out of a group of friends’ “Western Wednesdays” jam sessions at a local friend’s house in Frogtown, near Dodger Stadium
What began as a fun side project evolved into a full‑time mission: to keep the hot, twangy, electric style of the Bakersfield Sound alive in live performances
They’ve played at historic venues like Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, the Fox Theater, and the Kern County Fairgrounds, and have delivered over 100 shows in under two years.
The band’s sound is rooted in the Golden Era of Bakersfield country, with a “nice helping of Western Swing”. They perform both classic Bakersfield hits and original songs inspired by the town’s history. This young group of musicians’ repertoire spans country, bluegrass, jazz, and Western Swing, and they are known for authentic instrumentation and a lively, dance‑floor‑ready energy.
Bakersfield native and band leader Zane Adamo plays rhythm guitar, lead vocals and fiddle. He was a former film student in Monterey, and now performs music 75–85 days a year. Ben McCarthy is featured on lead guitar. Sue Malcolm performs vocals and guitar. Don Fraser is also featured on vocals and lead and resophonic guitar. Stu MacDonald rounds out the group on vocals, upright bass and is known for his comedic and roots‑style bass playing.
In July 2025, they released their self‑titled debut album, The Soda Crackers, featuring six originals and four covers. The project was recorded at Ecco‑Fonic Studio in Northridge, CA, and other locations, with Deke Dickerson producing. The album highlights their commitment to preserving the Bakersfield Sound while adding contemporary original material
The Soda Crackers are described as “Sun‑Fun‑Stay‑Playboys” aiming to bring back the classics and celebrate Bakersfield’s musical history. They’ve been praised for capturing the authentic tones and textures of the Bakersfield Sound, offering a living link to a once‑thriving West Coast country music community.
“We visited the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum last year,” leader Zane Adamo said. “We thought then that we would love to come back and do a performance at the museum. It is such an amazing place filled with such incredible Country Music memorabilia. We are very excited to present our band of music at the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum.”
