Archive for June, 2016

Willie Nelson & Family in Mankato “Unforgettable” (June 28, 2016)

Thursday, June 30th, 2016

janinemankato
photo: Janine Holter

www.startribune.com
by: Chris Riemenschneider

Willie Nelson threw in some surprises to his 75-minute set at the sold-out Vetter Stone Amphitheater in Mankato Tuesday.

Tuesday night’s twofer pairing of Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson at Vetter Stone Amphitheater in Mankato had two sunsets for a backdrop: the literal one that glowed over the Minnesota River alongside the picturesque outdoor venue, and the figurative sunset that has been lingering over the long-sold-out concert since April, when fellow American music icon Merle Haggard died.

Haggard’s passing served as a reminder to catch these once-unstoppable country music giants while they’re still going, a sentiment that especially hit home during Kristofferson’s opening set.

The legendary songwriter and storied 80-year-old actor — who performed with Haggard just this past September at the Minnesota State Fair — showed signs of the fading memory and worsening physical state documented in a Rolling Stone profile last month. However, he toughed it out in a way that seemed so Kris Kristofferson, earning several standing ovations from the 3,000 or so attendees. He also filled in the gaps and raised spirits even higher by bringing along Haggard’s stellar band, the Strangers, to perform with him.

With Merle’s sons Ben and Noel Haggard leading the way, the Strangers breezed through a half-dozen of The Hag’s classic songs while Kristofferson caught his breath at various intervals. “Running Kind” and “Rambling Fever” rang out like anthems for the show’s resilient stars, the latter song spiked with potent guitar picking by young Ben Haggard that suggested he, too, could become a star. “Okee From Muskogee” then prompted a big singalong at show’s end. The crowd also dutifully filled in for Kristofferson’s faded voice on “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”

Nelson, 83, and his Family band also sounded a little ragged at first as they kicked off their set with the requisite “Whiskey River.” By the time ol’ Willie plucked out his first wizardly guitar solo in “Still Is Still Moving” one song later, though, it was clear there would be much more than just sentimental value attached to the concert’s $43-$143 ticket prices.

Few American masters remain as masterful at this point of their careers as Willie is, a point highlighted Tuesday as he picked his way through more landmark songs that reminded us of our other lost giants: Ray Charles in “Georgia on My Mind,” B.B. King in “Night Life,” Waylon Jennings in “Good Hearted Woman,” Elvis Presley in “Always on My Mind.” Nelson delivered them all with effortless verve, his voice holding up strong and his guitar playing cutting through each song with surgical precision.

With his older sister Bobbie Nelson also sounding sharp on piano and longtime drummer Paul English behind him lighting up the stage with smiles, Willie threw a couple of pleasant surprises into his 75-minute set, including his recent Haggard collaboration “It’s All Going to Pot” (ahem) and the farmland-rooted “Promiseland.” Not surprisingly, though, the crowning moment came during the evergreen “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” with words Nelson has sung thousands of times, but never with so much meaning attached: “So leave me if you need to / I will still remember.”

Simply put, Tuesday’s show was unforgettable.

Imagine Dragons, “Roots” (Farm Aid 2015, Chicago)

Thursday, June 30th, 2016

Farm Aid Eve 2016 (Friday, September 16, 2016)

Thursday, June 30th, 2016

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www.FarmAid.org

Join us for the Farm Aid family reunion!

Farm Aid Eve will take place at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas on Friday, September 16, 2016. Doors open at 6:30 pm. We will enjoy incredible food from local family farmers and soul-shaking music from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats! In addition, we are excited to announce the evening’s events will include the presentation of the first annual Farm Aid Awards.

Hylton Performing Center
6:30 PM
10960 George Mason Circle
Manassas, VA 20109

Get your ticket here:
https://give.farmaid.org/manassas/events/farm-aid-eve/e82531

fae16

Join us for the Farm Aid family reunion!

Farm Aid Eve will take place at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas on Friday, September 16, 2016. Doors open at 6:30 pm. We will enjoy incredible food from local family farmers and soul-shaking music from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats! In addition, we are excited to announce the evening’s events will include the presentation of the first annual Farm Aid Awards.

 

Hylton Performing Center

6:30 PM

10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20109

Willie Nelson in Mucchio Selvaggio the Rock Magazine

Thursday, June 30th, 2016

mucchio

“Kiss Big Bootie Goodbye”

Thursday, June 30th, 2016

Sonny Throckmorton wrote “Kiss Big Bootie Goodbye” and sat in when the music video was filmed at Poodies’s Hilltop Lounge, outside Austin.

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Nelson

Thursday, June 30th, 2016

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Lukas Nelson

Willie Nelson Art, by Janine Holter

Thursday, June 30th, 2016

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Janine Holter (Beanie to some of us) sent me this beautiful mouse pad, with a picture of her painting she made of a photograph she took of Willie Nelson with his fans.  I loved her painting so much when she shared it on Facebook. last year.   Janine, I’m not going to let any mouse near this pad; I’m going to frame it.  Thank you; I love it.

She has been celebrating the life of Willie Nelson and his birthday for years every April.

beannie20122

janine832

“It was a lovely day to celebrate All things Willie Nelson with a pizza party – pot luck at my workplace. This year, all participants received a mousepad with an image of the painting I did honoring Willie and his fans.

God Bless Willie Nelson on his 83rd birthday. Many more!”

 

janine831

She decorates and serves cake, and has really cool party favors!  One year a beach ball, then a shopping bag.

beannie

 

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Willie Nelson and Family on Tour

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

Always confirm shows and get tickets at www.WillieNelson.com, or the venue.

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June 28
Vetter Stone Amphitheater
Mankato, MN
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June 29
Summerfest
Milwaukee, WI
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July 1
Grateful Fest at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
Garrettsville, OH
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July 2
French Lick Resort
French Lick, IN
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July 4
Fourth of July Picnic
Austin 360 Amphitheater
Austin, TX
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July 23
Marymoor Park
Redmond, WA
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July 24
Edgefield
Troutdale, OR
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July 26
Idaho Botanical Gardens
Boise, Idaho
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July 28
Red Butte Garden Amphitheater
Salt Lake City, UT
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July 30
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater
with Kacey Musgraves
Denver, CO
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Aug 1
The Steifel Theater
Salinas, KS
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Aug 2
Topeka Theater for the Performing Arts
Topeka, KS
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Aug 3
Washington Pavilion
Sioux Falls, SD
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Aug 5
Sturgis Buffalo Chip
Sturgis, SD
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Aug 6
Hinterland Music Festival
St. Charles, IA
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Aug  7
North Star Mohican Casino
Bowler, WI
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Sept 8
The Colleseum at Caesars
Windsor, Ontario Canada
with Aaron Lewis
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Sept 9, 10
Casino Rama
Rama, Ontario
with Aaron Lewis
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Sept 12
Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
Boston, MA
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Sept. 13
Coney Island Amphitheater
Brooklyn, NY
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Sept 17
Farm Aid
Bristow, VA
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Oct 9
ACL Fest
Austin, TX
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Oct 14
Lea County Events Center
Hobbs, NM
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Oct 15, 16
Celebrity Theater
Phoenix, AZ
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Oct 18
Pantages Theater
Los Angeles, CA
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Oct 19
Humphreys
San Diego, CA
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Oct 21
Avila Beach Amphitheater
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Nov 11
Winstar Casino
Thackerville, OK
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Nov 19
Silver Star Convention Center
Choctaw, MS

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, “Django and Jimmie”

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

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Buy Local, Grow Local

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

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www.FarmAid.org

 

 

Really cool New Raelynn Nelson Band Shirts for sale

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

rnbshirt

www.raelynnelson.com/store

raerae

Willie Nelson & Family in Mankato, MN (June 28, 2016)

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

mankatto

 

Thanks Margie Lemons, for sharing this photo from the soundboard.

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

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Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic: The Celebration of the Summer

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

summercelebration

Willie Nelson and Family in Papillion, NE (June 26, 2016) (Review)

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

coffey
www.omaha.com
Story and photo by: Kevin Coffey

Not so bad.

The last time I saw Willie Nelson, I was disappointed. I figured that as the octogenarian continued to perform, his skills were slipping and chalked up the poor performance to that.

It must have just been an off night.

On Sunday at SumTur Amphitheater, he was wonderful. Sure, the 83-year-old doesn’t quite sound like he did 20 years ago, but he’s still capable of greatness.

Nelson and his band sprinted through a set of old favorites and tributes for an hour, and the country outlaw had a near capacity crowd on its feet as the sun went down. (In fact, it was an early show, and the whole thing was over before night fell.)

Throughout the show, fans hollered and shouted for songs such as “Whiskey River,” “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and “Georgia on My Mind.”

As always, Nelson was joined by his family band that includes “little sister” Bobbie Nelson (actually two years Willie’s senior) on keys and “brother” Paul English (not actually Willie’s brother) on drums.

Nelson also had his beaten and battered trusty guitar, Trigger, and he used it to play lead for the whole show.
Nelson’s enigmatic playing style was in full effect. It’s so idiosyncratic that it’s almost punk rock. Nelson’s always been known for his playing, but these days it’s full of weird riffage, excellent little runs, odd phrasing and random strumming. For every on-point guitar solo, we got an improperly fingered chord.

The set was full of Nelson favorited and plenty of covers and tributes.

Strangely, Nelson didn’t play “On the Road Again,” and he also skipped “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” one of his usual standards.
I also hoped that opening act Kris Kristofferson would join his old friend for a song (maybe even “Highwayman), but it didn’t happen.
A legend in his own right, Kristofferson kicked off the evening with a 45-minute set that featured his own old tunes such as “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down” as well as several covers.

Kristofferson’s guitar playing was excellent, and he sounded as great and gruff as ever. I only wish he would have played a few more of his own tunes.

But Kristofferson’s set was a little more of a tribute show. He sang Merle Haggard’s “Okie From Muskogee,” and he was joined by Haggard’s sons, Noel and Ben. They played guitar throughout the show and took lead vocals on “Workin’ Man Blues” and “Ramblin’ Fever.” Nelson also paid tribute to Haggard with he and Haggard’s “It’s All Going to Pot” as well as Tom T. Hall’s “Shoeshine Man.”

Nelson only spoke to the audience a few short times, and he got lots of laughs when he referred to his tune “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” as “a new gospel song we just wrote.”

When it came time to close the show, Nelson played “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” as a medley with “I’ll Fly Away,” a song that saw the Haggard boys take the stage one time. As Nelson strummed Trigger one last time, fans stood and shouted out the words before cheering the outlaw as he left the stage.