Last June, after a devastating Hill Country storm destroyed his ghost town, Luck Texas, Willie Nelson declared that “Some towns got it a lot worse, so we aren’t complaining. Luck is a tough town. It can be rebuilt.”
Willie Nelson headlining the HBB 2014
After Willie restored Luck, organizers yesterday announced the line-up for the Fourth annual Heartbreaker Banquet and its return to Willie’s ranch during the SXSW music conference on Thursday March 19, 2015.
Luck Texas Chapel at the Heartbreaker Banquet 2012
Hosted by Electric Lady Studios and Robot Fondue in partnership with Squarespace, the daylong event has a definite non-SXSW feel as the venue is far from the crazy crowds that dominate downtown shows. This year’s event will feature concerts by the ranch’s owner, his son’s bands, Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real and Insects Vs. Robots (fronted by Micah Nelson), Heartless Bastards, Butch Walker, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Delta Spirit, Jonny Burke, Clear Plastic Masks, Horse Thief, Lily Meola, Nikki Lane, Leon Bridges, JP Harris, Angel Olsen, Israel Nash, Langhorne Slim, and more.
Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real at HBB 2014
Insects vs. Robots performing in Luck’s Chapel in 2014
Butch Walker, seen here at the Austin City Limits Music Festival 2007, will headline the Revival Tent Stage
The concerts take place on two stages, both of which make good use of the ghost town that Willie built as the setting for his 1986 film, Red Headed Stranger (and the town has been saved from destruction before — the original script called for town to be burned, but Willie had the story changed to preserve Luck) . The big Medicine Show stage stands on Main Street and the smaller Revival Tent stage stands beside Luck’s chapel. Tito’s Vodka will serve cocktails in the saloon, Budweiser will be the featured brew, Indian Motorcycle will run the town’s General Store, Stetson will offer authentic cowboy hats, and Uber will provide transportation. Other activities will include Tintype photographs, curated food trucks, and shopping for clothing.
Jonny Burke, seen here in 2013, will host an “In The Round” song swap in the Revival Tent
The Heartbreaker Banquet benefits the SIMS Foundation‘s goal of providing mental health services to Austin musicians and Wholesome Wave, a national nonprofit aimed at increasing access to locally grown food.
Ruby Joule (Hallie Martin) outside the saloon at the Heartbreaker Banquet 2013
New for this year, the “Banquet at Heartbreaker,” will be a separate Wednesday night culinary event that combines celebrity chef tasting menus and intimate musical performances. Tickets to both events can be purchased at http://www.heartbreakerbanquet.com.
Luck Texas during Heartbreaker Banquet 2014
More photos from past years in this gallery.
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