Robert Randolph and Steven Johnson to head Gunter Hotel blues weekend

Steven Johnson, the grandson of blues legend Robert Johnson, will enter Room 414 at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio to record a new album. This session marks the 90th anniversary of the 1936 recording session that established Johnson as a central figure in American music history.

Johnson plans to capture tracks in the exact room where his grandfather worked in November 1936. He will also utilize the hotel's Gunter Studio for additional recording. The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation is set to release the resulting album. The 1936 session influenced a wide range of artists, including Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin.

The recording process serves as the opening act for a three-day celebration scheduled for November 12 through 14. The events will take place throughout the hotel, which reopened in 2025 following a $70 million renovation. The property has integrated its musical past into its current operations by opening its studio to emerging artists and maintaining a record lending library in the lobby.

A Saturday showcase in the Crystal Ballroom will anchor the weekend. Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, who recently won his first Grammy for his album Preacher Kids, will perform. He will be joined by Texas blues-rock guitarist Ally Venable and the Steve L. Johnson Band. Marco Cervantes, a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio who performs as Mexstep, will emcee the event. Tickets for the showcase start at $59.

Programming extends to Thursday, November 12, with producer Michael Ramos leading Gunter Studio tours from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Robert Johnson Revue featuring Nicky Diamonds will perform in the Studio Lounge from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Aaron Stephens Trio will play at Bar 414 from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.

On Friday, November 13, a conversation with the Robert Johnson Family will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Gunter Studio Lounge, moderated by Hector Saldaña. Tomar & The FCs and Jordan Matthew Young will perform in the Crystal Ballroom from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Nick Brown & The Blues Cruise will follow at Bar 414 from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The weekend concludes on Saturday with the Eve Monsees Trio playing at Bar 414 from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Hotel owner Jiwon Choi stated in a release that the Gunter is honored to bring talented people together to celebrate the hotel's history and Johnson's legacy. Choi added that the hotel aims to celebrate those who came before and encourage future generations of artists. The hotel has formed a music council that includes Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas, Will and Noel Bridges of Antone's Nightclub, and Garrett T. Capps. Every guest room contains a turntable and a copy of King of the Delta Blues Singers.