When the “Outlaw Music Festival” came to town on Friday, September 16th, there was a lot of people in the parking lot and inside the center.
In the 70s, outlaw country was described as a sub-genre of country music by artists like Willie Nelson. The spirit of musicians who want more artistic freedom is showcased in the genre. Country music that is defined in the moment is not always presented by outlaws.
Fans of all political stripes came together for a diverse lineup under the outlaw country umbrella. Many in the crowd were long time Willie Nelson fans, while others would probably say they don’t listen to any music at all. All seemed to enjoy themselves on a late summer evening in the Great Woods.
The party began for the early birds who were there for the 4PM start. We arrived at the end of the set and were able to watch the sister duo play their instruments.
What a force in live music. His approach to bluegrass re-inspires the genre. He is bringing new people to bluegrass music.
The band blasted through a set of covers and originals, including a rousing opener and a cover of John Hartford’s “All Fall Down.” Each member of his crew took a solo during the set. The closer was a cover of Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies”. When you get a chance, see Billy Strings.
The Avett Brothers are known for hammering out the tunes at live shows. They played their hearts out on the originals of “Laundry Room,” “Murder in the City,” and “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” with their message that “your life doesn’t change by the one who’s elected” They write about family, growing up in North Carolina, and relationships they’ve been in and out of over the years in their music.
A highlight of the evening was when Avett and Crawford performed a stunning version of Jim Croce’s “Operator.” Many audience members who had not heard the song in a long time were happy to hear it. Don’t miss the Avett’s when they come back to town.
At 89 years old, Willie Nelson is still making trouble. He has a song called “On the Road Again.” It has traditional feel good country sounds. Nelsonstrummed away on Trigger, his legendary acoustic guitar, while singing favorites like the opener “Whiskey River,” “Georgia on My Mind,” and “Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys.”
Nelson’s spirited set featured reworked versions of his classics along with a few covers. Nelson was joined on stage by the ensemble for the closing song, “Will the Circle be Unbroken.”
There are a few more shows at the center this year. For more information, click here.
September 21, 1947 – September 07, 2022
Since the end of 2020, 8.5 million jobs have been created in the U.S. There were nearly 10.7 million job openings as of June 2022, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is our regular column that wraps up some of the top political stories of the moment
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