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
Genremusic festival
Date(s)around July 4th
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Variable
Years active1973–2019, 2021–
Inaugurated4 July 1973
Most recent4 July 2023 (Austin, Texas)
Websitewilliespicnic.com

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

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Dripping Springs Reunion

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(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

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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. One attendee 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

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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
2022 Austin, 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
2024 Austin, Texas Q2 Stadium Willie Nelson, Tyler Childers, Shakey Graves, Particle Kid, Asleep at the Wheel, Sierra Ferrell, Dwight Yoakam, Shane Smith and the Saints

References

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  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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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.