Austin360 blogs > Bottlecaps & Wingnuts > Archives > 2008 > July > 02 > Entry
Willie July 4 picnic lineup
Here it is, 2 days until my big event of the year, and I’m struck down by gastrointestinal distress — I’m thinking it was the migas at one of Austin’s finer breakfast establishments.
God willing, should I recover in time, you’ll be able to find a review of the July 4 picnic in Selma right here, on this blog, the day after the show. And probably the day after that and the day after that, too.
Until then, here’s how Friday looks, according to the folks at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater:
Del Castillo opens the show at 11:30 a.m., 30 minutes after the gates open.
Asleep at the Wheel is next, followed by a Pat Green set. After that, Johnny Bush, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Billy Joe Shaver and David Allan Coe have 20-minute sets.
Los Lonely Boys and Ray Price begin the evening, followed by Merle Haggard.
A 1 hour and 45-minute show by Willie and Family closes out the show, ending at 11 p.m.
Seem like a small lineup for a 11.5-hour show? Well, the folks at Verizon have built in a 30-minute delay between each set. I know this offers some leeway in case a set runs long or Willie wants to jam, but it still seems like a lot.
And who’s missing? Well, to begin with, all the smaller acts that typically hold the early afternoon hours at the picnic. There’s no Pauline Reese, no Geezinslaws, no up-and-comers like Shooter Jennings.
But there’s somebody else who is missing: Leon Russell.
It’s hard to be definitive, but I don’t think he’s ever missed a traditional (outside, on the Fourth, in Texas) Willie Picnic.
I’m not sure how traditional this picnic will be, but it’s not going to be the same without Leon. Now I wonder why he’s not playing this year?
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