Effective period / Period of releases: 1977

Members: Riley Osbourn, Tony Airoldi, Michael McGeary, Jack Jacobs (3), Kerry Kimbrough, Steve Blodgett, Dean Stimulus, Michael Christian (3), Don Elam, Fletcher Clark, Peter Nye (2)

Balcones Fault was an eight to nine piece band from Austin, Texas, that originally existed from about 1972 to about 1979, reuniting in 1990 and again in 2002. Their music combined a broad array of styles from Dixieland and swing over rock, blues, soul and pop to country and reggae. They took their name from the geological zone running from the southwest part to the north central region of Texas.

Emerging from Austin's progressive country scene, they became a comedic showband noted for their wild antics, anarchic humour and vaudeville-like performances. A favourite at venues like Austin's Armadillo World Headquarters, they unsuccessfully tried to break out as recording artists in 1977 with an album comprised mainly of original compositions.