Since the mid-'70s, Willie Nelson has been doing three things: smoking pot, playing music and throwing a Fourth of July picnic.
They've always been huge ordeals, attracting A-list celebrities, top country music artists and, of course, country music fans.
Nelson even held the festival in the Fort Worth Stockyards for a few years in the mid-aughts. Now he's back: On Monday, July 4, Willie Nelson and his Country Throwdown will be at Billy Bob's Texas, with performances from Willie, David Allan Coe, Ray Price, Jamey Johnson, Jack Ingram, and many more.
Surprisingly cheap tickets are available at Ticketmaster for $30. Snatch them up quick because it's going to be a relaxed, fun time.
Unfortunately, that won't be the case with our next show: Maroon 5 is performing at Gexa Energy Pavilion on Friday, September 23. And, in a move that pretty much guarantees that this will be the worst show to stumble through Dallas in 2011, they've gone and thrown Train on the bill as the opening act.
This week's show announcements aren't all bad, though. Hit the jump to see a bunch of really good ones.
Andy's Bar
Thursday, June 16 - Molotov Dogs
Thursday, July 7 - The BoomBachs
Friday, August 12 - Radio Fallout
Billy Bob's Texas
Friday, July 1 - Casey James
Saturday, July 2 - Aaron Watson
Sunday, July 3 - Austin Allsup
Monday, July 4 - Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic
Friday, July 8 - Charlie Robison
Saturday, July 9 - Steve Earle
Friday, July 15 - Micky and the Motorcars
Saturday, July 16 - Clay Walker
Friday, July 22 - Johnny Cooper
Saturday, July 30 - Casey Donahew Band
Curtain Club
Friday, May 20 - The Orange, The Commotion, The Phuss, God's Joke
Saturday, May 21 - Secret Of Boris, 62, June Halo, Dividing The Stone
Friday, May 27 - Shund, Black Tie Vendetta, Last Day Living, Karmethik
Saturday, May 28 - Pistol Whippin' Ike, Rocket Arm, Mission Red, Skyline
Friday, June 3 - Faint The Fiction, Echo Of Insanity, Fallen Windmill
Saturday, June 4 - FED, A Tragic Fake, Zoe Ann, Page 9
Friday, June 10 - Hello Jamie, Will Roth, Faces Under Water, Ruined Lies
Saturday, June 11 - The House Harkonnen, The Dangits & more
Dan's Silverleaf
Saturday, June 4 - The Bird Dogs
Gexa Energy Pavilion
Sunday, August 28 - IDentity Festival w/ Pretty Lights, Rusko, Disco Biscuits & more
Friday, September 23 - Maroon 5, Train
Glass Cactus
Thursday, May 19 - Steve Helms, Tommy Alverson
Thursday, May 26 - Nelo, Emory Quinn
Wednesday, June 15 - The David Whiteman Band
Thursday, June 16 - Brandon Rhyder, Charlie Shafter Band
Friday, June 17 - Air Supply
Thursday, June 23 - David Nail, Scott Wiggins Band
Thursday, June 30 - Jason Boland, Turnpike Troubadours
Granada Theater
Saturday, July 23 - Gorilla vs Bear Festival w/ White Denim, Preteen Zenith, Shabazz Palaces, Julianna Barwick, Grimes, Sleep Over, Pure X, Sunset, Dreamed, Sober
Hailey's Club
Friday, June 17 - Sundress, Roy Robertson, Peopleodian, Alphabet
Sunday, June 19 - Sam Robertson, Western Giants, The Hannah Barbarians, The Hope Trust
Saturday, June 25 - Consider The Source
House Of Blues
Saturday, June 18 - Bob Schneider
Friday, July 15 - He Is We, Ocean Grove
Saturday, June 16 - Ballyhoo!, Bastard Suns, Fayuca
Kessler Theater
Saturday, July 2 - Tiger Darrow, lalagray, Ruby Jane
Sunday, August 21 - Eric Tipton, Kelly Nygren
La Grange
Saturday, May 28 - Vinegar and Syrup
Lola's Saloon
Saturday, May 21 - Josh Weathers Band
Friday, June 17 - Sould Track Mind
Saturday, June 18 - Holy Moly
Friday, July 8 - Dixie Witch, Whiskey Dick
Friday, July 29 - Garuda, Kill The Client
Palladium Ballroom
Saturday, September 17 - Deadmau5
Pastime Tavern
Saturday, May 21 - Beauxregard, DJ Geeky C, Tiger Of Bengal, Hardin Sweaty
Prophet Bar (Big Room)
Saturday, July 9 - White Arms Of Athena, Picture It In Ruins, Baring Teeth
Prophet Bar (Small Room)
Thursday, May 19 - Zebrateeth, The Boat Lights, Bubble Dungeon, Night Eros
Saturday, June 11 - Boss Level, Siren Sea, Mont Lyons, Matthew Marcus McDaniel
Saturday, June 25 - Evenmark, Old Banners, Valise, The Ones You Loved
Friday, July 8 - Fat By The Gallon, Corey Thedford
Friday, July 22 - Anarbor, Youmeatsix, Conditions
Friday, August 19 - Coyotes, Mobley, Gaffney
Saturday, September 3 - Joe Firstman
Rio Room
Thursday, May 19 - Cassian
Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios
Monday, May 23 - John Mannion, Filth, Orgullo, Primitivo, Mindhunter
Wednesday, May 25 - The Pine Hill Haints, High Tension Wires, Mind Spiders
Thursday, May 26 - Video, Cola Freaks, Fossils,
Trees
Wednesday, June 8 - Sick Puppies, Cult To Follow, Fantasma
Thursday, June 9 - Evil Mothers, Bit Bot, Lollie Bombs
Verizon Theatre
Tuesday, July 19 - Dolly Parton
