Jack Fister’s Wildlife

Biography

Jack Fister is a Country singer, picker, songwriter, and Honky-Tonk bandleader born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri and now based in Austin. He began his music career in South St. Louis’ DIY Hardcore Punk scene with the band “Q”, the infamous Garage-Rock group “Soda Boys”, and others but was always drawn to Country music by its honest poetry, depth, and narrative.

Jack faced harsh reality at the age of 6 with the alcoholic death of his father. At 17 Jack was sent to a Utah wilderness program for troubled youth. Shortly after he began touring as a lead guitarist, hitch hiking, and busking across the country for many years until deciding to load his pick up truck with his belongings, settling on Austin, Texas to focus on his music career and find a home within the local honky Tonk community. In December of 2023, after 14 years of battling alcohol and drug addiction, Jack checked into rehab and his sobriety has gave him the revitalized spiritual fire for music and community while living in the converted garage loft on the Sweetheart Studios property in Elgin, Texas.

While developing a signature fingerpick-strummed style from his love of Townes Van Zandt & Willie Nelson he formed Jack Fister’s Wildlife. They found a home in South Austin’s Sagebrush, playing at White Horse, Sam’s Town Point, and becoming a mainstay of the local scene.

“Watershed” is the culmination of Jack’s experiences since becoming Texan and dedicating himself to the craft of country music. Inspired by his mother’s resilience and his stepfather’s agricultural upbringing - Jack continues to work in livestock/agriculture today on a small plot near Austin.

Venues played