Nelson and Neil Young are longtime friends, having performed at the annual Farm Aid music festival together, playing songs like “Heart of Gold” and “Four Strong Winds.” The artists on the lineup were tapped because they’ve either covered a Nelson song in the past, he’s covered one of their songs or they’ve collaborated together live on stage or in the recording studio. Related Articlesĭesert Hearts Festival moves to a new home, bringing techno and house to Los Angeles “We really wanted to celebrate the diversity of all of the different music Willie has created in his career - he did that reggae album with Ziggy (Marley) and ‘Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die’ with Snoop Dogg,” Silva said. All of the acts that were available and not already booked for a tour, responded “yes” immediately to this exclusive invite. There was an entire team, including Silva, Hewitt and Smith, along with Nelson’s longtime manager Mark Rothbaum, that came up with a list of artists to perform at the birthday bash. It’s a diverse lineup - with hip-hop, indie rock, folk, country, R&B, pop, reggae, jazz and blues artists all on one bill. Without revealing any set list secrets, he added “I think there’s just going to be so many special moments created in this, so I hope I get to see the full show.” Silva can’t pick out which artists and collaborations he’s the most interested in seeing. Whether you are a Coachella lifer or prefer to watch from afar, get weekly dispatches during the Southern California music festival season.

Sign up for our Festival Pass newsletter. To be able to put together his 90th birthday and celebrate with him like this at The Bowl is breathtaking.

“Willie is an American icon not only for his music, but he’s just done so much for us culturally. “I mean, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing,” said Brian Smith, Live Nation California senior vice president of booking, during an interview. Jones, Buddy Cannon, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Daniel Lanois, Dave Matthews, Dwight Yoakam, Edie Brickell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Clark Jr., George Strait, Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, Leon Bridges, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Particle Kid, Rosanne Cash, The Lumineers, Sheryl Crow, Shooter Jennings, Snoop Dogg, Stephen Stills, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Chicks, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Hayes, Waylon Payne, Ziggy Marely, Nelson’s sons, Lukas and Micah Nelson, and several more special guests. The cherry on his year, or atop his birthday cake, is this massive two-day celebration dubbed Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, which is scheduled to included appearances by Alisson Russell, Beck, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Booker T.

Two for the Show by Skye Warren