Despite battling the flu last month, famed Texas country star Willie Nelson is headed out on the road again and he’s bringing family and friends with him to Houston. Nelson announced the return of his popular Outlaw Music Festival, which had a successful 10-date U.S. run last year. The 2018 edition will feature stops in nine cities, wrapping up in The Woodlands at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on July 1.
Other than headliners Willie Nelson & Family, the Houston stop will include alt-country fave Sturgill Simpson, the soaring alt-rock of The Head and the Heart, Americana singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham, folk rockers Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, rock act The Wild Feathers, rootsy Lukas Nelson + Promise of the Real, and folk-rock act Particle Kid. More acts will be announced in coming weeks.
“We had so much fun on the Outlaw Music Festival Tour last year that we decided to do it again!” said Willie Nelson in a statement.
Nelson has been known for his annual Willie Nelson Picnic, ongoing since 1973, with this year’s edition taking place in Austin on July 4. Think of the Outlaw Festival as his very own traveling picnic. Each festival date will feature attractions along with local cuisine, craft beers and local artisans to give each stop a distinct flavor.
The 84-year-old Nelson's strong ties to the many different branches of music genres and his respected status allows the elder country statesman to build an eclectic line-up. Outlaw started in 2016 as a sold-out one-off show in Scranton, Pennsylvania, featuring Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and Lee Ann Womack. The success of that event led to the national tour in 2017 with a run that featured Bob Dylan, the Avett Brothers, and Eric Church.
General public tickets will go on sale 10 am on Friday, March 16. General admission will be $79.50 plus fees. Reserved seats are $69.50, $59.50, and $39.50 plus fees. Lawn tickets are $25 plus fees. VIP packages will also be available.
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians are on the bill for the Houston stop of the Outlaw Music Festival on July 1.
