Daniel Fears at The 04

It was only a few days ago that Daniel Fears had his first rehearsal with an 11-piece ensemble.

It’s intimidating, arranging any music for strings, rhythm section and chorus, but Fears is no stranger to moving his work to the next level, having been accompanied by chamber ensembles for some incredible performances at KMFA’s Draylen Mason Studio. Still, this recent rehearsal started on shaky ground because…well, it’s a lot.

Then, when they began to play Fears’ “Keep On”, something clicked. It’s that moment of realization that this could work out brilliantly. “Strings started playing their soaring, rich lines, joined by drums, bass, keys, and guitar creating a rock solid groove underneath, and singers harmonizing beautifully,” Fears says. “Couldn’t help but move my body a little. Couldn’t help but jump up and down.”

If you enjoyed the Draylen Mason performances, this will astound you. A perfect occasion to celebrate Daniel Fears Day today in Austin is Fears’ performance tonight, Saturday June 8, at The 04 Center, 2701 S. Lamar Blvd. Doors open at 7 p.m., then Daniel Fears and The Nu Classic start their show at 8 p.m.