OUTLAW MUSIC FEST TO RUN FROM JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER
Outlaw Music Festival is exactly what it sounds like—a traveling music festival honoring iconoclastic artists active in the 1970s and 1980s who fought for creative freedom outside against restrictive record labels in Nashville. Outlaw country is as much as a progressive movement as it is a music genre, and its legacy and message still remains super prevalent today. Some people even consider outlaw country to be the country-equivalent to punk music (myself included). Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and Loretta Lynn are just a few of the rebellious activists who changed the perception of country musicians forever.
Started, and continued, in 2016 by Blackbird Presents, Mark Rothbaum, and Willie Nelson, Outlaw Music Festival has become of one of North America’s biggest annual touring franchises. Musicians such as Chris Stapleton, Neil Young, Luke Combs, Van Morrison, ZZ Top, Eric Church, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, and many more have been a part of the Outlaw Tour over the years.
This year, they’ll be hitting the road again with an amazingly talented group;
Willie Nelson & Family
At 91 years old, Nelson is legendary in the country music scene. Most notable for his hit songs like “On The Road Again,” Nelson is the pen behind even more iconic and nostalgic songs from hundreds of different artists. In addition to his music, Nelson is a major liberal activist and the co-chair of the advisory board of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and owns the biodiesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel, whose product is made from vegetable oil.
Bob Dylan
Though never verbally picking a political side, Bob Dylan has always been on the side of whatever seemed ethical to him. He was on the side of social justice, on the side of the underdog, and on the side concerned about the abuse by politicians and institutions of authority and power—aka everything that makes up an outlaw country artist. Dylan has written numerous anti-war songs throughout his career and will make an awesome addition to the tour this summer.
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
You might recognize Robert Plant as the former lead singer of Led Zeppelin but did you know he was still making music? In 2007, Plant met Alison Krauss at a tribute concert to Leadbelly and through their similar interests in old blues and bluegrass, they collaborated together on an album called Raising Sand. Despite what some may think, Plant and Krauss have a strictly professional relationship and are not together romantically. The two often cover Led Zeppelin songs while performing together.
John Mellencamp with Britney Spencer
Despite being from Indiana, a particularly red state, John Mellencamp has always been progressive. In 1985, Mellencamp helped form Farm Aid—an annual musical organization that features a unique lineup of artists and genres, along with family farm-identified, local and organic foods. Each year, Farm Aid artists and board members (including John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and Margo Price) host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers, and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $78 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.
Celisse
Born in Oakland, California, Celisse spent a long portion of her life in New York City on Broadway and television. She is a killer guitarist and has supported Alicia Keys, Lucius and Brandi Carlisle, Dave Matthews Band, and Joni Mitchell. Celisse seems to be just as excited to be on the festival bill as I am, writing, “Enjoy my hologram on stage this summer as I will be viewing the show from Heaven with the other ghosts who enjoy music,” on Instagram.
Southern Avenue
Southern Avenue is a 5-piece blues and soul band from Memphis, Tennessee. Southern Avenue are known for their positive, message-driven, original songs and their melting-pot mix of Memphis blues and soul, fueled by frontwoman Tierinii Jackson's soaring, gospel-inflected vocals.
Billy Strings will also join the tour for one special night at The Gorge in Washington.
