Well, this isn’t how anyone expected things to go down. Willie Nelson (yes, the Willie Nelson) had to pull the plug on a highly anticipated stop on his “Outlaw Music Festival” tour, and the reason? The weather showed absolutely no mercy.
The July 1 show in El Reno, Oklahoma was officially canceled after severe storms rolled through the area, flooding the grounds and trashing a bunch of gear beyond quick repair. Fans (like this one) were understandably disappointed, but let’s be real… when Mother Nature decides to go full diva, even legends like Willie have to take the L.
So What Actually Happened?
It all started during another performance on June 29 in Ridgedale, Missouri. The skies opened up with intense rain and wind, and organizers had to shut things down for safety reasons. The damage? Pretty brutal. According to People, festival reps said “equipment and artists’ instruments were damaged and waterlogged,” and there just wasn’t time to assess or replace it all before the next gig.
By tonight (June 30), the plug had officially been pulled on the El Reno show, with promoters and the venue issuing a joint statement (seen below). They called it “unforeseeable circumstances” and said refunds would be issued automatically. At least there’s that.
Willie also took to Instagram to break the news, reassuring fans that “Trigger is marked SAFE from the damage suffered to other instruments and equipment in the MO storm 🫡” (Note: “Trigger” is his beloved, beat-up guitar.) And honestly, if “Trigger” didn’t make it, we’d all be in mourning.
The Show Must Go On… in Texas
While Oklahoma missed out, the tour isn’t done yet. Willie’s gearing up for his annual 4th of July Picnic in Austin, Texas, and this year’s lineup is stacked: Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, Asleep at the Wheel, and Tami Neilson are all set to take the stage at Germania Insurance Amphitheater.
Willie, in classic form, had this to say about the upcoming show: “I’m 92 years old and I’ll be there, so you have no excuse,” per Blackbird Presents. Honestly? Icon behavior. He went on to say, “I look forward to bringing back my annual 4th of July Picnic to the city I love and sharing this special event with all my Austin fans.”
It sounds like Austin’s getting the full experience; eight hours of live music, food, fireworks, and that signature outlaw vibe. And after the storm chaos, fans (and Willie) deserve to end this week on a high note.
Yep, it’s a bummer when weather wrecks the fun, but leave it to Willie to bounce back like it’s nothing. Oklahoma may have been a washout, but Texas better be ready to party.
