HONK!TX was inspired by the original HONK! Fest in Somerville, Massachusetts. In 2006, local street band Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society had a vision to create a festival celebrating the growing nationwide community of activist marching bands and the community-rooted union of art, activism, and music.

HONK! bands draw inspiration from sources as diverse as Klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, Brazilian Samba, Afrobeat and Highlife, Punk, Funk, and Hip Hop, as well as the New Orleans second line tradition, and they perform with all the passion and spirit of Mardi Gras and Carnival. Acoustic and mobile, HONK! bands blur the lines between performer and audience, creating free venues out of our public spaces to ensure that no age requirement or cover charge will ever keep you from experiencing a HONK!TX community music festival. This is the movement we call HONK!