ELIJAH ZANE’S STORY
From growing up in Victoria, Texas working on his family’s junkyard and listening to the Blues, going to college in San Antonio to moving to Austin, Texas. A lifetime of numerous experiences that has contributed to Elijah Zane’s songs and purpose in life and music.
The Junkyard
Growing up in the heart of Texas, blues guitarist Elijah Zane found his rhythm in an unexpected place—the family junkyard in Dacosta, just 10 miles southeast of Victoria. From an early age, he and his brother Steven spent weekends and summers cutting copper, shooting guns, and building go-karts, all while soaking in the sounds of Blues and Rock ’n’ Roll.
Between weighing 18-wheelers packed with scrap metal and barbecuing under the Texas sun, Elijah learned the value of hard work and raw, unfiltered music. In an old shack, alongside their grandmother Rebecca, the brothers would strip car starters, burn them down with diesel and wood, and pound out scrap copper—each clang and crackle echoing like a blues riff in the making. The sound of pain, hard work and the Blues was as real as it got.
This gritty, hands-on upbringing shaped Elijah’s soulful, electrifying sound—a fusion of hard-earned experience and deep musical roots. Today, his guitar tells the story of those junkyard days, blending raw blues energy with Texas-style grit.
Musician Beginnings
Elijah Zane’s journey as an Austin Blues guitarist and singer began at just 15 years old in Victoria, Texas. It all started in a small, one-car garage on the south side of town, where his father’s high school friend’s sons were already playing local bars. Watching them perform ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaghaun and Jimi Hendrix, Elijah had a revelation: “I’ve got to learn this.” That moment set him on a lifelong path of music.
Soon after, he formed his first band, Jonas Wilson and the Wailers, alongside Jonas Wilson, Eric Gonzales, Erin Gonzales, and another drummer. Though his time in the band was short-lived, it only fueled his drive to start his own project and carve out his own sound.
Elijah later moved to San Antonio to attend the University of Texas, be closer to his mother, and immerse himself in the city’s vibrant music scene. He quickly became a staple, playing venues like the Riverwalk, Sunset Station, and the legendary Cigar Club in North San Antonio. Sharing the stage with Texas music icons like Two Tons of Steel, Vallejo, Jake Owen and Chris Duarte, Elijah built a reputation for his electrifying performances and deep connection to the Blues.
Now based in Austin, Texas, Elijah Zane continues to bring raw, soulful energy to the stage, blending Texas Blues, Rock, and a lifetime of musical passion. Whether performing in iconic Austin venues or writing new music, his sound remains deeply rooted in the heart and soul of Texas.
The Austin Blues Musician
Elijah Zane has been a part of the Austin Blues scene since the early 2000s, first earning his stripes at the legendary Jovita’s Blues jams on South 1st Street. From 2005 to 2009, he made his mark at Maggie Mae’s, honing his craft and earning a reputation for his electrifying performances.
After graduating college, Elijah moved to Austin in 2017, drawn by the city’s unmatched energy, innovation, and deep appreciation for live, original music. Leaving behind San Antonio, he sought a place where Blues and creativity thrived—and found it in the heart of Austin.
Now a staple of the Austin Blues circuit, Elijah Zane regularly performs at some of the city’s most iconic venues. Catch him live at Skylark Lounge, Geraldine’s, or sitting in with Soulman Sam at Antone’s and Bradley Thomas at Friend’s on Wednesday nights. His passion for the genre extends beyond just performing—he’s also played major Texas festivals, including the Luckenbach Blues Festival (2020, 2021) and multiple festivals in Pflugerville.
Elijah doesn’t just play the Blues—he champions it. He created and produced the Austin Blues Concert, a show dedicated to showcasing the city’s top Blues talent. Its inaugural event highlighted Austin’s female Blues and Blues-Rock artists, including Meagan Tubb and one of the last “Women of Antone’s,” Sarah Barlow.
New Zealand
Bringing the soul of Austin Blues to the world, Elijah Zane has made it his mission to share the authentic Texas sound beyond city limits—and even beyond the U.S. Determined to take his music to the international stage, he set his sights on performing at a Blues festival overseas—and he made it happen.
Elijah has toured New Zealand twice, playing at the 2019 and 2022 Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival in Paihia. To capture the raw energy of live Blues, he teamed up with local musicians who were not only talented but also passionate about the genre. The thrill of playing alongside “EZ, the kid from Austin, Texas” made for an unforgettable musical experience on both sides of the stage.
With a deep love for New Zealand and its music scene, Elijah plans to continue bringing the Austin Blues vibe to festivals and events, collaborating with local artists and keeping the Blues spirit alive. He’s also setting his sights on more U.S. and international Blues festivals, working to preserve and promote the genre on a global scale.
"We gotta do whatever we can to keep the Blues alive." – Elijah Zane
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