Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic

Last updated
Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic
WillieNelson4thofJulyPicniclogo.jpg
Genremusic festival
Date(s)around July 4th
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Variable
Years active1973–2019, 2021–
Inaugurated4 July 1973
Most recent4 July 2023 (Austin, Texas)
Website williespicnic.com

Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic is an annual concert hosted by country music singer Willie Nelson. Nelson was inspired to create the annual concert after his participation in the 1972 Dripping Springs Reunion, that was hosted at Hurlbut Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas. As part of the lineup, Nelson performed on the third day. The event failed to meet the expected attendance due to the concert being poorly promoted.

Contents

Interested in the concept, Nelson decided to host the inaugural Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic in the same place, as it was already prepared to host a concert. The success of the event led to other concerts. During the late 1970s, the bad reputation of the concert for recurrent problems with safety of the audience made it difficult to find venues. During the 1980s the security improved, and the event recovered the trust of the potential venues.

History

Dripping Springs Reunion

(L-R) Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings at Dripping Springs reunion Kris Willie Waylon.jpg
(L-R) Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings at Dripping Springs reunion

Willie Nelson was inspired to start a yearly festival by the 1972 Dripping Springs Reunion, where he was a part of the lineup. In 1971, four music promoters from Dallas, Texas decided to create a massive music festival for country music audiences. Edward Allen, Michael McFarland, Don Snyder and Peter Smith, chose the Hurlbut Ranch, owned by James Hurlbut in Dripping Springs, Texas, to be the place for the festival. [1] After working on the grounds for months to prepare the site, the festival was set to last three days, between March 17-19, 1972. The lineup included Earl Scruggs, Hank Snow, Sonny James, Tom T. Hall, Tex Ritter, Roy Acuff, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Rich, The Collins Kids, and Kris Kristofferson. Due to the lack of funds, the event was poorly promoted. The expected total attendance was 180,000 to 225,000 for the three days, but it failed to reach 40,000. Security was provided by 123 men on foot, 40 perimeter horse riders, highway patrolmen and two helicopters. [2] According to Nelson's biographer Joe Nick Patoski, the concert "helped spark the rise of progressive country music and recognition of Austin as a music hub". [2]

The picnic

In 1973, Willie Nelson's first 4th of July picnic took place in the same ranch. Nelson selected the place because it was already prepared to hold a concert. The event attracted an estimated attendance of 40,000, and became an annual festival. [2] Before the concert, the Texas Senate Resolution 687 proclaimed July 4, 1975, as "Willie Nelson Day". [3] [4] The organization provided only few portable toilets, while trash was left around the concert site and the town. The event was qualified as "moral pollution" by the local residents. [3] For the bad organization of the concert, Nelson was fined US$1,000 for violating the Texas Mass Gatherings Act. [5] During the late 1970s the bad reputation of the concert often led to problems finding a venue. In 1976, the planned three-day concert had an estimated attendance of 80,000, the largest in the history of the picnic. The concert ended on July 5 after the rain shorted the PA system. An attendant drowned while four were stabbed. There were 140 arrests, four kidnappings, and three reported rapes. Nelson was sued by the ranch owner, the ambulance service and two attendants. [3]

During the 1980s the security was reinforced in the picnics, improving the reputation of the event. [6] The outdoors were fenced and the number of negative incidents reduced. During the 1990s the picnic was often held in Luckenbach, Texas, while in the 2000s the recurrent location was Billy Bob's Texas, at the Fort Worth Stockyards. [3]

In 2020 the Picnic was set to return to the Texas hill country on Nelson's "Luck, TX" property, home to the annual Luck Reunion "anti-festival". In lieu of an in-person festival, Luck Productions produced a virtual event that consisted of live-streamed performances and a 90-minute short film commemorating the history of the event. Participants included: Willie Nelson; Nathaniel Rateliff; Steve Earle; Lyle Lovett; Robert Earl Keen; Margo Price; Edie Brickell; and more.

In 2024, the Picnic will be held in Camden, New Jersey. [7]

List of concerts

Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic has been hosted on the following occasions: [6]

YearCityVenueLineup includedNotes
1973 Dripping Springs, Texas Hurlbut RanchWillie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Doug Sahm, Sammi Smith and Tom T. Hall First picnic
1974 College Station, Texas Texas World Speedway Willie Nelson, Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band, Jimmy Buffett, Townes Van Zandt and Kinky Friedman The festival was held on 4–6 July. A fire destroyed the car of Robert Earl Keen; a photo of which was depicted on the album cover Picnic
1975 Liberty Hill, Texas Overton RanchWillie Nelson, Johnny Bush, Rita Coolidge and the Pointer Sisters Nelson was fined with 1,000 for violating the Texas Mass Gatherings Act
1976 Gonzales, Texas Sterling Kelly RanchWillie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Doug Sahm, Ernest Tubb, Roger Miller, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Leon Russell, Ray Wiley Hubbard, George Jones and B.W. Stevenson The concert was held on July 3–5. The attendance rounded 80,000. A person drowned while four were stabbed. There were 140 arrests, four kidnaps and three reported rapes
1977 Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa Fairgrounds SpeedwayWillie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Waylon Jennings, Jesse Colter, Jerry Jeff Walker, Asleep at the Wheel, Leon Russell, and Jerry Jeff Walker The concert was held on July 3
1978 Kansas City, Missouri Arrowhead Stadium Willie Nelson, Grateful Dead, Waylon Jennings, Jessie Colter, Jerry Jeff Walker, Missouri (band) The concert was held on July 1
Hell's Angels worked stage security
1979 Austin, Texas Pedernales Country Club Willie Nelson, Ernest Tubb and Johnny Paycheck
1980Austin, TexasPedernales Country ClubWillie Nelson, Ray Price and Faron Young
1981
1982
1983Atlanta, Georgia [Hampton]Atlanta International RacewayWillie Nelson, Waylon & Jessie, Linda Ronstadt, David Allan Coe and Stray Cats 300,000 people, 99 degrees
1984Austin, TexasSouthpark MeadowsWillie Nelson, Johnny Rodriguez, Moe Bandy and Joe Ely
1985Austin, TexasSouthpark MeadowsWillie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Hank Snow and June Carter Cash
1986The concert coincided with Farm Aid II
1987 Hillsboro, Texas Carl's Corner Willie Nelson, Bruce Hornsby, Jackie King and Roger Miller
1988
1989
1990Austin, Texas Zilker Park The Highwaymen, Shelby Lynne and Little Joe
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995 Luckenbach, Texas Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen and T. Bingo
1996Luckenbach, TexasWillie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Waylon Jennings, Souvenirs, Supersuckers, Billy Joe Shaver
1997Luckenbach, TexasWillie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Joe Ely
1998Luckenbach, TexasWillie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Asleep at the Wheel, Derek O'Brien and Toni Price
1999Luckenbach, TexasWillie Nelson, Larry Gatlin and Pat Green
2000Austin, TexasSouthpark MeadowsWillie Nelson, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Mark David Manders
2001Luckenbach, TexasWillie Nelson, Ray Price, Pat Green, Leon Russell, Cory Morrow, David Allen CoeCancelled
2002
2003 Spicewood, Texas Two River Canyon AmphitheaterWillie Nelson, Pat Green, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, The Dead, Merle Haggard, Leon Russell, Toby Keith, Patty Griffin and Billy Bob Thornton Concert performed on July 4–5
2004 Fort Worth, Texas Billy Bob's Texas 'Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Cross Canadian Ragweed and Clarence Brown
2005Fort Worth, TexasBilly Bob's TexasWillie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Doobie Brothers, Lightnin' Willie & the Poorboys and Pauline Reese
2006Fort Worth, TexasBilly Bob's Texas Willie Nelson, Paula Nelson, Noel Haggard, Shooter Jennings, Lucas Hubbard, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Folk Uke
2007 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre Son Volt, Old 97s, Drive-By Truckers and 40 Points
2008 Selma, Texas/Houston, Texas Verizon Wireless Amphitheater/Sam Houston Race Park Ray Price, Paula Nelson, David Allan Coe, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Los Lonely Boys and Del Castillo
2009South Bend, INStanley Coveleski StadiumWillie Nelson, Bob Dylan, John MellencampThe concert was held July 4th
2010 Bee Cave, Texas The BackyardTim O'Connor, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kris Kristofferson, The Reflectacles, Jamey Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton and Jack Ingram
2011Fort Worth, TexasBilly Bob's TexasWillie Nelson, Country Throwdown tour, Billy Joe Shaver and David Allan Coe'
2012Fort Worth, TexasBilly Bob's TexasWillie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Price, Johnny Bush
2013Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth Stockyards, Billy Bob's TexasWillie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Price, Johnny Bush, Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson, David Allan Coe, Ray, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Paula Nelson40th anniversary picnic
2014Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth Stockyards, Billy Bob's Texas Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, David Allan Coe, Ryan Bingham, Jamey Johnson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Dierks Bentley
2015Austin, TexasCircuit of The Americas Willie Nelson, Eric Church, Merle Haggard, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Isbell, Asleep at the Wheel, Sturgill Simpson, Leon Russell, Chris Stapleton, Billy Joe Shaver, Johnny Bush, Kris Kristofferson, David Allan Coe, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Paula Nelson, Greezy Wheels, Raelyn Nelson Band, Folk Uke, Hudson Moore, Amber Digby, Pauline Reese
2016Austin, Texas Austin360 Amphitheater Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Amber Digby, Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, Brantley Gilbert, Cody Johnson, Dallas Wayne, David Allan Coe, Folk Uke, Jamestown Revival, Jamey Johnson, Johnny Bush, Kris Kristofferson, Lee Ann Womack, Leon Russell, Margo Price, Paula Nelson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shakey Graves
2017Austin, TexasAustin360 Amphitheater Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, David Allan Coe, Folk Uke, Hayes Carll, Insects vs Robots, Jamey Johnson, Johnny Bush, Kacey Musgraves, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Margo Price, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Turnpike Troubadours
2018Austin, TexasAustin360 Amphitheater Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, David Allan Coe, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Folk Uke, Gene Watson, Jamestown Revival, Johnny Bush, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Margo Price, Particle Kid, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ryan Bingham, Sturgill Simpson, The Head and the Heart, The Wild Feathers
2019Austin, TexasAustin360 Amphitheater Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Billy Joe Shaver, Colter Wall, David Allan Coe, Folk Uke, Gene Watson, Hayes Carll, Jamey Johnson, Johnny Bush, Luke Combs, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Steve Earle & The Dukes
2022Austin, Texas Q2 Stadium Willie Nelson, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Tyler Childers, Midland, Charley Crockett, Brothers Osborne, Allison Russell, Particle Kid, Steve Earle & the Dukes, Asleep at the Wheel
2024Austin, TexasQ2 Stadium Willie Nelson, Tyler Childers, Shakey Graves, Particle Kid, Asleep at the Wheel, Sierra Ferrell, Dwight Yoakam, Shane Smith and the Saints

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summerfest</span> Annual music festival in Wisconsin, United States

Summerfest is an annual music festival held in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. First held in 1968, Summerfest is located at Henry Maier Festival Park, adjacent to Lake Michigan and Milwaukee's central business district. Summerfest attracts approximately 800,000 people each year, promoting itself as "The World's Largest Music Festival", a title certified by Guinness World Records in 1999, but has been surpassed in attendance by Donauinselfest with over three million in 2015. While Summerfest has one of the highest aggregate attendances in the world, the daily attendance of Summerfest is lower than other major American music festivals. In 2022, the daily attendance of Summerfest was 49,500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Nelson</span> American country singer (born 1933)

Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country singer, guitarist and songwriter. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. The critical success of his album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zilker Park</span> Historic urban park in Austin, Texas

Zilker Metropolitan Park is a recreational area in south Austin, Texas at the juncture of Barton Creek and the Colorado River that comprises over 350 acres (142 ha) of publicly owned land. It is named after its benefactor, Andrew Jackson Zilker, who donated the land to the city in 1917. The land was developed into a park during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Today the park serves as a hub for many recreational activities and the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake, both of which run next to the park. The large size of the park makes it a capable venue for large-scale events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Zilker Park Kite Festival. The park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farm Aid</span> Annual benefit music festival for American farmers

Farm Aid is an annual benefit concert held for American farmers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Austin, Texas</span>

Austin's official motto is the "Live Music Capital of the World" due to the high volume of live music venues in the city. Austin is known internationally for the South by Southwest (SXSW) and the Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festivals which feature eclectic international lineups. The greatest concentrations of music venues in Austin are around 6th Street, Central East Austin, the Red River Cultural District, the Warehouse District, the University of Texas, South Congress, and South Lamar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luckenbach, Texas</span> Unincorporated community in Texas, United States

Luckenbach is an unincorporated community 13 miles (19 km) from Fredericksburg in southeastern Gillespie County, Texas, United States. Named for Carl Albert Luckenbach, son of the early settler Jacob Luckenbach, the town is known as a venue for country music and for its German-Texan heritage.

The Kerrville Folk Festival is a music festival with camping, held for nearly three weeks each year, in late spring/early summer, at Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. The festival draws around 30,000 people. It aims to present established artists and promote new talent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Houston Race Park</span> Horse racing track in Texas

Sam Houston Race Park is a horse racing track located in unincorporated northwest Houston, Texas, United States. The park hosts both Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse racing each year. The track strives to be a multi-purpose venue, hosting many festivals and events during its off seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach Festival</span> Music festival

The Stagecoach Festival is an annual country music festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. Organized by Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents, it is a sister event to the Coachella festival, and held on the weekend immediately following the conclusion of Coachella.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Showco</span>

Showco was a sound equipment provider of touring sound reinforcement equipment and services to the concert touring industry. It was based in Dallas, Texas, United States. In 2000, Showco was acquired by Clair Global.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spicewood, Texas</span> Unincorporated community in Texas, United States

Spicewood is an unincorporated community in Travis County and partially in Burnet County, Texas, United States. According to the Texas Almanac, the community had an estimated population of 2,000 in 2000. But in the 2011 census, the community had a population of 7,666. The community also extends towards Travis County off Highway 71.

Dia De Los Toadies is an annual music festival organized by perennial headlining act Toadies. First held in August 2008 at Possum Kingdom Lake, the festival has subsequently been held in Glen Rose, New Braunfels, and at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth. The ninth annual festival was held on June 11, 2016 in New Braunfels. The annual festival has been described as "the Willie's Picnic of a new generation."

Levitation is an annual 3-day music festival developed and produced by The Reverberation Appreciation Society. Since its sixth year in 2013 it has been held at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, Texas. Inspired by the creative explosion of the 1960s, as well as by festivals such as ATP and Primavera Sound, they set out to create their vision of a music festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euphoria Festival</span>

Euphoria is an annual four-day music and camping festival held in Austin, Texas. Euphoria focuses on electronic music but includes hip hop, indie, and jam band artists. The festival also features camping, art installations, live painting, yoga and workshops. The festival debuted in 2012 and was held for the sixth time in the spring of 2017. Over 50,000 attendees gathered at Carson Creek Ranch for Euphoria 2017. The 2018 festival, newly titled Finding Euphoria, took place on May 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vote 'Em Out</span> 2018 single by Willie Nelson

"Vote 'Em Out" is a single by Willie Nelson, released on October 11, 2018, amidst the 2018 Senate election in Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Germania Insurance Amphitheater</span> Sports and concert venue in Texas

The Germania Insurance Amphitheater called for sponsorship reasons, is an outdoor amphitheatre that is part of the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) located in Austin, Texas, USA. The venue opened in November 2012 with a capacity of 14,000. There are 6,700 fixed reserved seats. Another 1,700 seats can be configured on the stage-front floor or alternately configured for standing room for 2,300. The remaining general admission spots are on a sloping grass area behind the reserved seats. The Amphitheater won the Best New Major Concert Venue Award by Pollstar in 2013. It has been recognized as a Modern Steel Construction in 2015 by the American Institute of Steel Construction winning the 2015 IDEAS2 Awards.

Wood & Wire is a bluegrass band formed in Austin, Texas in 2011. The lineup currently is made of Tony Kamel, Dominic Fisher, Trevor Smith, and Billy Bright. They are active in the Austin music scene and have played at venues like Stubb's Indoors, The Historic Scoot Inn, and Cactus Cafe. The group was nominated for their first Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass album at the 61st Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Nelson statue</span> Bronze statue of Willie Nelson by Clete Shields in Austin, Texas, U.S.

The Willie Nelson statue, or simply Willie, is a bronze sculpture of singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, located in Downtown Austin, Texas. The statue was commissioned to artist Clete Shields by the nonprofit organization Capital Area Statues.

Reunion Tour was the second solo concert tour by American musician Phoebe Bridgers, in support of her second studio album Punisher. The tour began in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, on September 3, 2021, and concluded in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States, on April 26, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Hemp Harvest Festival</span> Annual music festival

The Texas Hemp Harvest Festival is an annual music festival held in Austin, Texas.

References

  1. Richey, Howie (2014). Party Weird: Festivals and Fringe Gatherings of Austin . Charleston, SC: The History Press. pp. 113–116. ISBN   978-1-62619-652-0. OCLC   1150150548.
  2. 1 2 3 Thomas, Dave (March 16, 2012). "40 Years Ago, Dripping Springs Reunion Helped Create Austin's Musical Identity". American-Statesman. Austin 360. Archived from the original on 2012-06-23. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Hinds, Allie (June 29, 2012). "The History of Willie's Picnic". NBCDFW. NBCUniversal, Inc. Archived from the original on 2012-07-04. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  4. "July 4, 1975 Senate Resolution 287". stillisstillmoving. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  5. Jasinski, Laura E. "Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Thomas, Dave (21 December 2016). "The (almost) definitive chronology of Willie's Fourth of July Picnics". American-Statesman. Austin 360. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  7. "Willie Nelson moves 2024 4th of July Picnic out of Texas". KXAN. Retrieved July 2, 2024.