The Outlaw Music Festival Hits Charlotte, Minus Willie Nelson

Last Saturday night, we attended the Outlaw Music Festival in Charlotte, NC. It promised an epic lineup, consisting of Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Bob Dylan, Celisse and, of course, Willie Nelson. Unfortunately, Nelson was sick and unable to make the appearance [he has not yet returned to the Outlaw Music Festival as of this writing]. Our thoughts go out to the Red Headed Stranger and hopefully we can catch him on tour again soon.

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant Setlist

The first time I saw Robert Plant and Alison Krauss as a duo was when they initially started touring together, I don’t know, 15 or 20 years ago?? Gosh how time flies. I thought, “What the heck are these two thinking?” I couldn’t imagine Plant & Krauss finding anything in common musically to build on. Boy was I wrong. It’s magic when these two powerhouses in their own right join forces. I am glad it’s a duo that has lasted and that I got a chance to see them again, so many years later.

1. Rich Woman [Li’l Millet and His Creoles cover]
2. Fortune Teller [Benny Spellman cover]
3. Can’t Let Go [Randy Weeks cover]
4. The Price of Love [The Everly Brothers cover]
5. Rock and Roll [Led Zeppelin cover]
6. Please Read the Letter [Page & Plant cover]
7. High and Lonesome
8. Trouble With My Lover
9. In the Mood / Matty Groves / Gallows Pole [medley]
10. The Battle of Evermore [Led Zeppelin cover]
11. When the Levee Breaks
12. Stick With Me Baby [The Everly Brothers cover]
13. Gone Gone Gone [The Everly Brothers cover]

Bob Dylan Setlist

I have to say, for those of you who love Bob Dylan, please explain it to me. I just don’t get it. I can’t understand except maybe every 4th word he says and I had a HELL OF A TIME putting together this setlist. I still missed one song and had to ask someone else what it was. The Google microphone that finds songs couldn’t understand him either and searching for song lyrics is next to impossible when you can’t understand what someone is saying, lol. Anyway, rant over. I hope all you Bob Dylan lovers out there appreciate all the work I put into grabbing this setlist for you. 😉

1. Highway 61
2. Shooting Star
3. Love Sick
4. Little Queenie [Chuck Berry cover]
5. Mr Blue
6. Early Roman Kings
7. Can’t Wait
8. Under The Red Sky
9. Things Have Changed
10. Stella Blue [Grateful Dead cover]
11. Six Days On The Road [Dave Dudley cover]
12. Soon After Midnight
13. Ballad Of A Thin Man
14. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight

Also, I am not sure what the deal was but there were NO closeup camera views of Bob Dylan. He sat behind the piano almost the entire time [except for when he came out to bow a couple of times] and the venue camera was focused on the entire stage, not one closeup the entire time. Unless you were right at the stage, you really couldn’t see him. So I have no good pictures of Bob Dylan to share with you, unfortunately. That’s pretty weird for PNC Music Pavilion, in my opinion. Perhaps this was at Dylan’s request?

Lukas Nelson Tapped In For Willie

Lukas Nelson tapped in for his dad and did a great job performing many of Willie Nelson’s classics. I won’t lie, the heat got us so we left after he did a few songs, so I will share our partial setlist below. All of the songs listed are Willie Nelson covers except otherwise noted. If you weren’t especially familiar with Willie Nelson and you were also not looking at the stage, you could possibly get confused and think Willie was there. Lukas sounds that much like his dad. There was a girl behind us on the lawn who was asking if people heard the rumor that Willie wasn’t going to be there. Oh man, I don’t know how she did not know this to be a fact, considering there was an email sent to all ticket holders, it was announced on the venue social media pages and there were signs at the entry gates [for those that might want to leave and not attend the concert, opting instead for a refund]. She sure was shocked when she was informed that the “rumors” were true. *Shaking my head*

1. Whiskey River
2. Stay a Little Longer
3. Still Is Still Moving To Me
4. Funny How Time Slips Away / Crazy
5. Night Life
6. Just Outside Of Austin [Lukas Nelson original]
7. You Were Always On My Mind

It bears noting that Celisse was freaking phenomenal! I was completely unfamiliar with her before this performance. I didn’t bother getting a setlist and regret that now. She was SOOOO good. If you get a chance to catch one of her performances, you should definitely take it.

Also, for all the people crying about Willie Nelson not showing for the concert, the dude is 91 years old. The only thing higher than his age [besides maybe him] in Charlotte, NC, that day was the temperature. It was 96 degrees when we arrived at the venue. Combine being sick and elderly with 96 degree weather and standing under those lights for 1-2 hours and you really have a recipe for disaster. Come on people. Cut the man some slack and chill.

Also, we got our tickets during the $25 Concert Week Promotion. Yay Concert Week! I stocked up! If you don’t think that Alison Krauss, Robert Plant, Bob Dylan or Celisse are worth your $25 investment, I don’t know what to tell you. If you paid more and weren’t el cheapos like us, it’s STILL worth it. Get better soon, Willie!

Check out the rest of our pictures from Outlaw Music Festival on Flickr!