Besides Willie, there's a lot of music diversity for 2023 Outlaws weekend
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The question has been asked: Willie show?
Yes, he Willie will.
But, Outlaws & Legends Music Festival organizer and performer Mark Powell said, the three-year wait to see and hear the Texas music outlaw and legend isn't the only reason he expects another capacity crowd of 15,000 on Saturday at the Back Porch of Texas.
Combined with a similar audience Friday, he expects the annual early spring music event to draw close to 32,000 to northwest Abilene.
Something for everyone, including Mark Powell
Powell has selected a far-ranging lineup that includes Friday headliner Carly Pearce, who appeared in Abilene as her music career was taking off in 2018, and a Saturday appearance by Exile. The band that produced the monster hit "Kiss You All Over" in 1978, then went country, is celebrating its 60th year in music in 2023.
"To me that's nut," Powell said of the core of the group - Sonny LeMaire, J.P. Pennington and Les Taylor - keeping it together. "People think they've changed their band over but they didn't. They have side players but the core dudes have been together the whole time."
Powell said he heard Exile songs while working on the family's lodge in Colorado. He remembered they wrote "The Closer You Get" and "Take Me Down," big hits for Alabama.
It struck him that he needed to bring them to Abilene.
"I was, 'Dude, I've got to do that,'" he said, laughing. "And I don't recall them being around here hardly ever. "
Exile performed at the Exhibit Hall at the Expo Center in 1985, at an outdoor venue called Fort Wood in Colorado City in 1991 and at the Ponderosa Ballroom in 1997, according to Reporter-News archives.
Last year, he brought Kentucky Headhunters back to town. They had not been in Abilene for decades.
"I like the dudes that are more of a novelty," he said.
There are old friends returning, such as music party favorite Kevin Fowler and the first time back for Stoney LaRue since he performed for the first event. Then there are festival newcomers such as William Beckmann, Tanner Usrey and Kin Faux.
"William Beckmann has got that old, old, old sound but a real young kid," Powell said. "He's killing it. He's already into stadiums. He's brand new but I like his style. He fits with what we're doing."
That's the way Powell likes it. A mix of eclectic - last year he booked the Rev. Horton Heat - and honest-to-goodness country. He quizzes himself each year as to who he'd buy a ticket to see.
"What would I pay money for?" he said. "Some of the new guys I just can't get into. Maybe that's just me."
He laughed.
This year, he's pleasing his faithful festival fans by bringing back Fowler and Gary P. Nunn, who will play Friday's after-show event in the metal tee-pee on site.
"I like that they deem that as part of the Fest," he said of fans wanting to hear tried and true artists.
Hot off the top of the shelf
Powell is mixing familiar faces with new faces, which other fans want him to bring.
Yet, he said, some fans just come for the music and the event. They trust the lineup will be talented and diverse.
"We want all top shelf guys," Powell said.
And gals.
This will be Pearce's first show on the Porch - she was at the Abilene Convention Center previously.
"This was Carly's biggest breakout year," Powell said, noting the success of her album "29: Written In Stone."
Some of his producers work with her.
"The industry's is going nuts on her," he said. Currently, her song "What He Didn't Do," sits at No. 1. It's her fourth No. 1 hit.
"It's not that canned sound. I thought she would be a really good fit," he said.
The is the 12th festival, which just this week was named the best in Texas at the Texas Regional Radio & Music Awards event in Arlington. Outlaws & Legends was runnerup to KOKEFest in Austin in 2022 after winning the year before.
"That's crazy because we're in little Abilene and we're only 12 years old," Powell said. Other events such as Larry Joe Taylor's festival next month in Stephenville or Willie's picnic have gone on for many years.
These events can share artists - Fowler, Nunn, Usrey, Jamie Richards, Roger Creager (who's doing the Saturday after-hours gig) and Cody Canada will be at the Taylor show.
What it comes down to is having a good time, and fans have had that at the Back Porch.
What's new
There's always something new at the Back Porch.
This year, the cosmetic changes are fewer, though there are some.
To start, those parking north of the site will enter through a new metal gate that bids them welcome upon arrival and safe travels when they leave.
The two-story metal lighting booth now is three stories, and the sundeck that was new last year added metal bar stools There will 100 or so feather flags flapping on the grounds - showing pictures of past performers - and 4 foot by 8 foot metal photos of past artists on display.
Powell hopes to create a sort of memory lane for returning fans, who will recall past festivals and who was there.
Otherwise, the physical changes are few.
One big change for fans regarding convenience will be the addition of bar service on the grounds. Fans still can bring coolers for a $20 charge, but they also can purchase event coolers inside for the same price. Those come with unlimited ice and "six beers on the front," he said. Or a Tito's pre-mix setup.
Those also can be stored, then taken home as a souvenir.
That service was suggested to Powell, who was up for trying it. His thinking is that people may not want to haul their cooler inside and keep up with it, so provide onside service for them.
"So nothing's inconvenient," he said. "That's going to be the big push."
Who's playing when at Outlaws
MARCH 31
Gates open at 1 p.m.
2 p.m. - Micky and the Motorcars
3:15 p.m. - Jamie Richards
4:30 p.m. - Tanner Ussery
6 p.m. ; Cody Canada and The Departed
7:30 p.m. - Mark Powell
9:30 p.m. - Carly Pearce
APRIL 1
Gates open at 10 a.m.
11 a.m. - Davis Brothers
11:45 - London Talley & Jackson Hatch
12:45 p.m. - Kin Faux
2 p.m. - Dale Watson & his Lonestars
3:15 p.m. - Williams Beckmann
4:30 p.m. - Exile
6 p.m. - Stoney LaRue
7:30 p.m. - Kevin Fowler
9:30 p.m. - Willie Nelson and Family
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Besides Willie, there's a lot music diversity for 2023 Outlaws weekend
