11th Outlaws festival gets off to a fine start on Back Porch in Abilene

Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News
·2 min read
A view of the Back Porch of Texas from the new "sun deck" that recently was added. Friday's crowd built as the day turned into evening, when Kentucky Headhunters, Brent Cobb and the duo of Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin took the stage. The 11th Outlaws & Legends Music Festival continued Saturday with music from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
A view of the Back Porch of Texas from the new "sun deck" that recently was added. Friday's crowd built as the day turned into evening, when Kentucky Headhunters, Brent Cobb and the duo of Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin took the stage. The 11th Outlaws & Legends Music Festival continued Saturday with music from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Mark Powell must be living right.

Better, credit his wife, Meredith. She has most pull in the family.

You couldn't have asked for a more perfect start Friday to the annual Outlaws & Legends Music Festival at the Back Porch of Texas in northwest Abilene.

The temperature was in the mid-80s and a light wind, which was due to pick up a bit Saturday. Still, after recent bouts of chilly weather and high wind, it was a darn good night to be listening to Kentucky Headhunters, Brent Cobb and the double act of Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin.

Kentucky Headhunters guitarist Greg Martin performs with the band during Friday's Outlaws & Legends Music Fest at the Back Porch of Texas.
Kentucky Headhunters guitarist Greg Martin performs with the band during Friday's Outlaws & Legends Music Fest at the Back Porch of Texas.

The Headhunters, back in town after 32 years, had fans singing along to hits such as "Dumas Walker," "Oh, Lonesome Me" and "Walk Softly On This Heart of Mine." They wanted to play more, said lead singer Richard Young after the show, saying they had "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" and "Spirit in the Sky" ready to go. But the show must go on.

Brent Cobb was the early evening act at Friday's Outlaws & Legends Music Festival. It was his first appearance and he called the invite a privilege. March 25 2022
Brent Cobb was the early evening act at Friday's Outlaws & Legends Music Festival. It was his first appearance and he called the invite a privilege. March 25 2022

Cobb was joined by Zane Williams, who was tipi guest artist after main festival music ended.

"It's a privilege to be here," Cobb said, adding that playing after the Headhunters never was on his bucket list "but I'm glad to be here" after their show.

Kershaw, who hails from Louisiana, said he always has had success in Texas.

Tammy Swaim of Sunset, attending her first Outlaws & Legends Music Festival, sings along to "Oh, Lonesome Me" with the Kentucky Headhunters on Friday. She came to the Back Porch of Texas specifically to hear the Heads, she said. March 25 2022
Tammy Swaim of Sunset, attending her first Outlaws & Legends Music Festival, sings along to "Oh, Lonesome Me" with the Kentucky Headhunters on Friday. She came to the Back Porch of Texas specifically to hear the Heads, she said. March 25 2022

"I was hoping y'all would secede and I'd move here," he said, to loud applause. Texas flags flew at the site, and a man wearing a "Let's Go Brandon" T-shirt planted a U.S. flag near the front of the stage.

Kershaw said he was building Walmart Supercenters and living in Arlington when his got his first record contract. He had been looking for a good one for 20 years but found it when he didn't expect it.

He did "Cadillac Style," his first hit, and dusted off a 1970s-era classic, "Third Rate Romance."

Sammy Kershaw sings "Third Rate Romance," insisting he'd only done that a time or two. Kershaw closed the Friday show at Outlaws & Legends with Aaron Tippin. March 25 2022
Sammy Kershaw sings "Third Rate Romance," insisting he'd only done that a time or two. Kershaw closed the Friday show at Outlaws & Legends with Aaron Tippin. March 25 2022

And thanks to a radio DJ in Dallas, who played "She Don't Know She's Beautiful," he got his first, and only, No. 1 hit.

Kershaw said Tippin, who had a few more, consistently reminds him of that.

What fans may remember most about Tippin is the size of his arms. Those still are massive. His hits include "That's As Close As I'll Get to Loving You," "Kiss This" and "You've Got to Stand for Something."

Singer Aaron Tippin is a light grayer but he still has muscular arms. Tippin joined Sammy Kershaw on stage as Friday night headliners at the 11th Outlaws & Legends Music Festival. March 25 2022
Singer Aaron Tippin is a light grayer but he still has muscular arms. Tippin joined Sammy Kershaw on stage as Friday night headliners at the 11th Outlaws & Legends Music Festival. March 25 2022

On Saturday, the only female act this year, Cross Plains' own Ariel Hutchins, was on stage around noon. She followed Shane Terrell, an Abilenian who won his spot into the event lineup.

Ariel Hutchins dances during her lunch-time set Saturday at Outlaws & Legends. She joked she is used to playing later in the day, so excuse her if she kept saying "tonight." Her songs included her first Texas No. 1, "Wine Won't Work." March 26 2022
Ariel Hutchins dances during her lunch-time set Saturday at Outlaws & Legends. She joked she is used to playing later in the day, so excuse her if she kept saying "tonight." Her songs included her first Texas No. 1, "Wine Won't Work." March 26 2022

Host Powell was due on stage in the evening, before the return of Robert Earl Keen. REK has announced he is retiring, so his Outlaws show likely would be his last in Abilene.

► Go to reporternews.com to view our Outlaws & Legends photo gallery.

Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: 11th Outlaws festival gets off to fine start on Back Porch in Abilene