LITTLE ROCK — Willie Nelson’s picnics in Texas became legendary in the 1970s, so it was probably just a matter of time before someone came up with a plan to take the shows on the road.
That someone is 4 FINI Inc., and its promoter, Kevin Lyman, who created the Vans Warped Tour that has been making the rounds for 17 years. In 2005, he started the heavy metal-oriented Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour.
The second annual Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour, which debuted Friday in Philadelphia and will continue through July 4, is making a stop in North Little Rock on Saturday.
Like the Warped Tour, multiple stages have been created to maximize the number of musical acts that will perform. There are three planned: the Bluebird Cafe Stage, the Side Stage and the Main Stage.
Music is slated to get under way first on the Side Stage, with Drake White at 3:40 p.m., followed by Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at 4:35, Craig Campbell at 5:35 and Brantley Gilbert at 6:50.
The Bluebird Cafe Stage will feature Austin Lucas,Brent Cobb, Dani Flowers, Adam Hood, Erin Enderlin and Caitlyn Smith, all of whom will perform from 4:05 to 5:15 p.m. “in the round” made famous at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tenn. Enderlin is a native of Conway who moved to Nashville in 2000 to attend college.
She has since written songs that have been recorded by Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, Randy Travis, Terri Clark, Adam Brand and Luke Bryan. She is recording an album with Jim “Moose” Brown and Jamey Johnson.
Hood’s tour biography includes the following: “While performing at a club in Little Rock in 2004, Adam received his first big break when he had a chance encounter with producer Pete Anderson [who] watched Adam’s entire set that night and was immediately impressed with his rich, soulful voice and earnest songwriting.” Anderson produced Hood’s album, A Different Groove, which was released in March 2007.
The Main Stage will open with Lee Brice at 6:05 p.m.He will be followed by Randy Houser at 7:30, the Bluebird Stage singer-songwriter group 1 at 8:15, Jamey Johnson at 8:35, more of the Bluebird Cafe Stage singer-songwriter group at 9:35 and headliner Willie Nelson at 9:55.
Nelson’s fans know what they will hear from their idol, but some degree of mystery may still surround the sound of Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson, 22, who will bring his band, Promise of the Real - which is also the name of the band’s debut full-length CD, released Dec. 21, which follows on the heels of a limited release EP, Brando’s Paradise Sessions.
The new album features nine Lukas Nelson compositions, plus cover versions of Neil Young’s “L.A.,” a “mash-up” combination of Jimi Hendrix’s “Pali Gap” and “Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)” and his dad’s (and sister Amy Niccore’s) “Peaceful Solution.” The album features Willie on backing vocals on “Fathers and Mothers” and “The Sound of Your Memory,” and the proud dad plays his guitar, Trigger, on “All the Pretty Horses” (the only song on which any guest guitar-playing is heard; all other songs feature only Lukas’ guitar skills). Willie’s sister, Bobbie Nelson, plays piano on “Fathers and Mothers,” as does harmonica legend Mickey Raphael, longtime member of Willie’s band.
Another family member, Lukas’ younger brother, Micah Nelson, did the artwork for the CD booklet, and he often paints onstage during the group’s shows.
Lukas began his love affair with the guitar at an early age, either 10 or 11, when he asked his father what he would like for a birthday present. His father told him, “I want you to learn how to really play guitar.” The youngster set out to grant Willie’s wish, playing his guitar 10 hours a day and learning songwriting as well. According to an Associated Press story, young Nelson lived in his car for a year in Los Angeles, preferring not to ask his family for any money so he could say he had made it on his own.
Saturday concertgoers will be allowed to bring in one lawn chair per person. Those who buy the VIP ticket will receive their laminated ticket at the VIP gate, where they will get early entry in an express line, starting at 2 p.m., and entrance to a VIP area directly in front of the stage, plus early crowd-free vendor shopping and access to VIP bathrooms, concessions and beverage and beer tents.
The tour will make another stop in Arkansas on July 3, with what’s billed as Willie’s Picnic and Throwdown at a new venue, the Osage Creek Amphitheater near Siloam Springs. The tour concludes July 4 at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth.
Although the Country Throwdown Tour is produced by the same folks who do the Vans Warped Tour, fans of hard rock should not get their hopes up, as Vans Warped, which opens June 24 in Dallas, will get no closer to central Arkansas than that city and the St. Louis area, where it stops Aug. 3. Memphis band Lucero will be featured on the tour.
Willie Nelson’s Country
Throwdown Tour Featuring: Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Craig Campbell and others 2:30 p.m. Saturday, gates open;
3:15 p.m., music starts, North Shore Riverwalk park, North Little Rock Tickets: $47; $89 VIP (800) 745-3000 www.ticketmaster.com
Weekend, Pages 34 on 06/02/2011