Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic
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.
| Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | music festival |
| Date(s) | around July 4th |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Variable |
| Years active | 1973–2019, 2021– |
| Inaugurated | 4 July 1973 |
| Most recent | 4 July 2019 (Austin, Texas) |
| Website | williespicnic |
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
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 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.
The next year will be virtual once again; participants TBA.
List of concerts
Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic has been hosted on the following occasions:[6]
| Year | City | Venue | Lineup included | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Dripping Springs, Texas | Hurlbut Ranch | Willie 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 Ranch | Willie 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 Ranch | Willie 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 Speedway | Willie 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 | — |
| 1980 | Austin, Texas | Pedernales Country Club | Willie Nelson, Ray Price and Faron Young | — |
| 1981 | — | — | — | — |
| 1982 | — | — | — | — |
| 1983 | Atlanta, Georgia [Hampton] | Atlanta International Raceway | Willie Nelson, Waylon & Jessie, Linda Ronstadt, David Allan Coe and Stray Cats | 300,000 people, 99 degrees |
| 1984 | Austin, Texas | Southpark Meadows | Willie Nelson, Johnny Rodriguez, Moe Bandy and Joe Ely | — |
| 1985 | Austin, Texas | Southpark Meadows | Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Hank Snow and June Carter Cash | — |
| 1986 | — | — | — | The concert coincided with Farm Aid II |
| 1987 | Hillsboro, Texas | Carl's Corner | Willie Nelson, Bruce Hornsby, Jackie King and Roger Miller | — |
| 1988 | — | — | — | — |
| 1989 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | Austin, 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 | — |
| 1996 | Luckenbach, Texas | — | Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Waylon Jennings, Souvenirs, Supersuckers, Billy Joe Shaver | — |
| 1997 | Luckenbach, Texas | — | Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Joe Ely | — |
| 1998 | Luckenbach, Texas | — | Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Asleep at the Wheel, Derek O'Brien and Toni Price | — |
| 1999 | Luckenbach, Texas | — | Willie Nelson, Larry Gatlin and Pat Green | — |
| 2000 | Austin, Texas | Southpark Meadows | Willie Nelson, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Mark David Manders | — |
| 2001 | Luckenbach, Texas | — | Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Pat Green, Leon Russell, Cory Morrow, David Allen Coe | Cancelled |
| 2002 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | Spicewood, Texas | Two River Canyon Amphitheater | Willie 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 | — |
| 2005 | Fort Worth, Texas | Billy Bob's Texas | Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Doobie Brothers, Lightnin' Willie & the Poorboys and Pauline Reese | — |
| 2006 | Fort Worth, Texas | Billy 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 | — |
| 2009 | South Bend, IN | Stanley Coveleski Stadium | Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp | The concert was held July 4th |
| 2010 | Bee Cave, Texas | The Backyard | Tim O'Connor, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kris Kristofferson, The Reflectacles, Jamey Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton and Jack Ingram | — |
| 2011 | Fort Worth, Texas | Billy Bob's Texas | Willie Nelson, Country Throwdown tour, Billy Joe Shaver and David Allan Coe' | — |
| 2012 | Fort Worth, Texas | Billy Bob's Texas | Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Price, Johnny Bush | — |
| 2013 | Fort Worth, Texas | Fort Worth Stockyards, Billy Bob's Texas | Willie 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 Nelson | 40th anniversary picnic |
| 2014 | Fort 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 | — |
| 2015 | Austin, Texas | Circuit 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 | — |
| 2016 | Austin, 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 | — |
| 2017 | Austin, Texas | Austin360 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 | |
| 2018 | Austin, Texas | Austin360 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 | — |
| 2019 | Austin, Texas | Austin360 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 | — |
References
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- "July 4, 1975 Senate Resolution 287". stillisstillmoving. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- 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.
- Thomas, Dave (21 December 2016). "The (almost) definitive chronology of Willie's Fourth of July Picnics". American-Statesman. Austin 360. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
