It was during this period that Voelz found a used acoustic guitar for $25 and learned to play it,[1] although the violin never ceased to be her primary instrument.

She began playing and performing with musicians she met there, including Ronnie Lane, who had relocated to Austin with former bandmate Ian McLagan, both of Small Faces/Faces fame.

During this period, she found opportunities to perform as a backing musician with others on tour, including John Mellencamp and Alejandro Escovedo.

Voelz was offered work by the Hawaiian band Poi Dog Pondering, who had relocated to Austin and were searching for a fiddler for their planned debut album.

She composed the score for the Frontline television series The Lost Children of Rockdale County, which won the Peabody Award, as well as the follow-up Merchants of Cool.