Willie Nelson, Terry Allen, the Panhandle Thriller Band, Guster, Spoon, Ethel Cain, and extra will all converge on Nelson’s Luck Ranch in Spicewood, TX, on Mar. 16, 2023, for the eleventh anniversary of Luck Reunion.
A yearly music competition and expertise created to be a “reunion” of the individuals and group that make music and Texas tick, Luck Reunion can actually be summed up by one phrase: “Dwell like Willie.”
“We’re making a platform for the following era of creatives and storytellers whereas preserving the previous that got here earlier than us,” wrote Luck Reunion Co-Founder, CEO, and Inventive Director Matt Bizer in an e mail to Hop Tradition. “It’s a celebration of music, meals, and group that yearly makes a pilgrimage to Willie Nelson’s ranch to rejoice not only a legacy, however to assist carry the torch of a group created round a way of life.”
One that actually begins with a pair of cowboy boots on the bottom in Texas.
Simply A Child from Texas
Type of just like the anit-festival, one pushed by an experience-driven group, Luck Reunion very a lot expresses the Texas roots of its creator.
As a child rising up in Texas, Bizer spent as a lot time skateboarding and BMXing as studying the two-step.
“I skipped faculty to chase storms and surf within the Gulf but in addition to go to a cowboy breakfast in San Antonio and dance in Conjunto and Tejano all day,” wrote Bizer. “That’s Texas.”
Bizer carried that adventurous spirit all through his teenagers and twenties, touring round to completely different cities and creative communities in his automobile with aspirations to make movies.
“I used to be fascinated by the Beat Era and I liked to see how different individuals lived,” he wrote.
By no means content material to cool down, Bizer jumped round within the movie trade from lighting tech to digicam operator to creating his personal movies.
Every position taught him one thing new.
Finally falling into producing, he made the whole lot from music and trend movies to commercials.
“Over time I kind of collected manufacturing abilities like a passion,” he says.
And he began assembly individuals—well-known individuals.
“There was no level you may have advised eighteen-year-old Matt that he would get to sit down beside the Cohen Brothers for weeks at a time, play Move the Pigs with Jeff Bridges, have dinner with Steve Earle, make a music video for Chuck Berry, should persuade Emmylou Harris to do one other take, have a flirt with Bonnie Raitt, or sit throughout from Willie Nelson in his underwear,” wrote Bizer. “I’ve a tough time even saying that… So yea, I’d say my motto for the primary twenty years of my life was: ‘Why not?’”
From Why To not Willie Nelson
Whereas it wasn’t Willie Nelson in his underwear per se that impressed Bizer to create his personal music competition, Nelson as an individual did.
That and the intersection of Texas and New York.
Bizer met the Nelsons on a film he crewed in Austin known as “When Angels Sing.”
And his eventual enterprise companion Ellee Durniak, who he occurred upon in New York whereas visiting with a rock band known as the Occur-Ins and filming a documentary.
“The thought of Luck was kind of a product of all these probability encounters with artists and other people collected stretching from Austin to NYC and again,” wrote Bizer. “Ellee and I talked rather a lot about what was lacking in music and occasions with our mates in NYC.”
A spot the place all individuals, from all walks of life, from all completely different backgrounds may come collectively and revel in one thing they all liked—music.
One evening at a restaurant in North Central Austin with Annie and Willie Nelson, Bizer pitched the concept off the cuff.
“It truly is a blur, however I bear in mind Annie saying ‘get insurance coverage’ and pondering it was a joke,” wrote Bizer. “It wasn’t till a number of weeks later in NYC that I noticed they’d thought it was already occurring.”
When You Understand You’re Throwing a Music Competition on Willie Nelson’s Ranch
😱 It’s all arms on deck.
“One factor you study working with the Nelson household is that they are saying what they imply, and good or unhealthy you simply would possibly end up throwing an occasion at their ranch!” wrote Bizer.
Does it matter that you just’ve by no means put a giant occasion collectively earlier than? Does it matter that it is advisable Google the phrases “sponsorship deck” since you understand that you just want one to get sponsors?
Nope. You simply get ‘er completed.
“12 months one was family and friends boot-strapping it,” wrote Bizer, who chilly emailed corporations, drove a field truck for every week, and did no matter else was wanted to scrape Luck Reunion collectively.
And sure, earlier than you ask, Bizer acquired insurance coverage.
In actuality, that first Luck Reunion was only a secret get together with individuals invited over social media and by phrase of mouth.
There have been kegs and Tito’s alongside a small competition stage on the finish of primary road the place eclectic bands and artists performed. As an illustration, James McMurtry, Johnny Fritz , Blitzen Trapper, Jenny O., Aaron Lee Tasjan, Billy Joe Shaver, and extra.
“The Sheriff confirmed as much as unplug the present at 11pm and Gary Clark Jr. performed a twelve-minute model of Vivid Lights,” wrote Bizer. “After that and a Rolling Stone article or two, it simply kind of grew and we held on.”
To Bizer, creating Luck Reunion has been extra like “breaking a horse” than methodically planning out the whole lot.
However though they stumbled into the rodeo like a misplaced bull, Luck Reunion discovered one thing actual drifting aimlessly throughout the dusty Texas plain.
“We name it a household, but it surely actually is a group in true kind,” wrote Bizer. A gaggle of individuals all introduced collectively to get pleasure from music harmoniously. These individuals dug their heels into the perimeters of the bull, tightened the reins, and held on for pricey life.
And it’s that bond between mates, artists, and followers that has saved Luck Reunion going robust even eleven years later.
Luck Reunion Celebrates Its Eleventh Anniversary With a Huge Lineup…of Beer
In 2022, Luck Reunion has gone all out.
“This yr’s Luck Reunion occasion goes to be a extremely particular eleventh yr for the Luck Household,” wrote Bizer. “We’re excited to ask an inventory of returning acts in addition to a ton of fantastic faces to the Luck Household. It gained’t be one to overlook!”
Artists corresponding to Nelson himself, Terry Allen, the Panhandle Thriller Band, Guster, Spoon, Ethel Cain, and extra will grace the stage at Willie Nelson’s Luck Ranch in Spicewood.
All advised, over thirty-five people will sing, strum, and play. See the total lineup right here.
“From our Potluck on March fifteenth celebrating the tales of the three Sisters agriculture and culinary heritage to our celebration of New Orleans on March 18th, and tribute to the late, nice Sister Rosetta Tharpe on Sunday March nineteenth, we’ve a heck of every week lined up out in Willie’s Yard,” wrote Bizer.
Right here’s what the total weekend will appear like:
- Wed., Mar. 15, 2023 – Potluck x Three Sisters: A Three Sisters-themed multi-course dinner and live performance fundraiser paying homage to the principle agricultural crops of indigenous delicacies.
- Thur., Mar. 16, 2023 – Luck Reunion ‘23: The principle occasion!
- Sat., Mar. 18, 2023 – New Orleans Takeover – An expertise like no different as New Orleans, LA, invades Luck, TX, with a multi-performer present drawn from the spirit and deep affect of the Huge Straightforward. The occasion will function a chef-curated meals expertise introduced by the Texas Meals and Wine Alliance in addition to meals distributors from throughout Texas and Louisiana.
- Solar. Mar. 19, 2023 – A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Gibson, Antone’s and Luck Current: Unusual Issues Taking place – A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Capping off the week at Luck is a gospel brunch like no different. A considerate and artist-packed tribute to the legendary Sister Rosetta Tharpe, authentic “Soul Sister” who made an indelible influence on gospel and soul music. The Dap Kings’ personal Binky Griptite serves as musical director.
And as a craft beer journal, we took be aware that the beer will match the large stars with the competition that includes its first ever Craft Beer Corridor.
“Distinctive to this yr’s reunion, we’re including a 50’x70’ Beer Corridor to the Luck Barn state outfitted with draft partitions and a collection of superb craft beers,” wrote Bizer.
Which is sensible as a result of a) the whole lot is larger in Texas and b) Texas has some fairly freakin’ superb breweries.
However at Luck Reunion particularly, massive breweries you’ll get to drink from, embody Lagunitas, Deep Ellum, Founders, Odell, Actual Ale, Sierra Nevada, Household Enterprise Beer Co., and Bishop Cider.
How Can I Get Tickets to Luck Reunion?
Trying to hang around with Willie Nelson whereas ingesting a Lagunitas?
Sound like a once-in-a-lifetime expertise to you?
Whereas the presale tickets to Luck Reunion ‘23 are bought out, you possibly can subscribe to the e-mail checklist at luckpresents.com and comply with Luck Reunion social media platforms to take part within the remaining Fortunate Attracts and pop-up alternatives to purchase tickets. Or take a look at all the opposite occasions which are occurring at Luck Reunion from Wed., Mar. 15, to Solar., Mar. 19, 2023, and get your tickets right here.
