For half a century, Willie Nelson has celebrated the Fourth of July in a singular way: by throwing a big party. His “Picnics” have become the stuff of legend, featuring country music superstars, rumored Bob Dylan appearances, hundreds of thousands of fans, and plenty of Texas heat and dust. But in his new book, Picnic: Willie’s Fourth Of July Tradition, writer Dave Dalton Thomas seeks to delineate the fact from the myth. He’ll be celebrating the book’s release with a tour which takes him to BookPeople on April 29th, moderated by Willie Nelson biographer Joe Nick Patoski.
This week on My KUTX, we’re celebrating Willie Weekend with a guest DJ set from Dave Dalton Thomas. He plays an hour of Picnic-related favorites, from traditionalists like Asleep At The Wheel and Johnny Bush to the Willie cuts you’re bound to hear at his Picnics. Listen to My KUTX on Saturday, April 27 or anytime right here.
Playlist:
- Asleep At The Wheel – “Miles And Miles Of Texas” (live)
- The Bells Of Joy – “Let’s Talk About Jesus”
- Johnny Bush – “There Stands The Glass”
- Ray Wylie Hubbard – “Snake Farm”
- Billy Joe Shaver – “Georgia On A Fast Train”
- Particle Kid – “Die When I’m High (Halfway To Heaven)” (feat. Willie Nelson)
- Kris Kristofferson – “Me And Bobby McGee”
- Ray Price – “Heartaches By The Number”
- Waylon Jennings – “Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)” (feat. Willie Nelson)
- Willie Nelson – “Whiskey River” (live)
- Willie Nelson – “Live Forever” (feat. Keith Richards)
- Willie Nelson & Leon Russell – “I Saw The Light”
