Austin Sound

It seems a week can’t go by that there’s not something to report on Willie Nelson. The latest is that Willie has been tapped to finish the Backyard’s closing season on October 26th as the venue shuts down in hopes of finding a more secluded atmosphere. The show, billed as Willie Nelson and “very special guests” (ah, but then isn’t it always?), is being dubbed “The Final Celebration,” and Willie and crew will likely send the place up in smoke. Of course, it would be much cooler if Willie showed up for either of Snoop Dogg’s dates coming up on August 2 and 3 at the Backyard.

Tickets for The Final Celebration go onsale this Saturday, July 19, at 10:00am through GetTix.net and by phone at 1-866-443-8849. You can also pick them up at Waterloo. The first 400 ticket buyers get to take advantage of the “early bird” price of $60, or you can splurge for the “Golden Circle” ticket at $350. We have no idea what kind of perks the Golden Circle might include, but for that price there better be free munchies.

To commemorate the closing of the Backyard, here’s a classic video of Willie performing “Who Will Buy My Memories” on Hee Haw! after the jump.

It appears Willie has somehow found the time to pen a new a novel, or at least co-author one with fellow Texan and musician Mike Blakely. Called A Tale Out of Luck, the novel is due in September and according to Blakely’s website, designed to be adapted into a movie with Willie in the starring role. Well that’s pretty exciting, we reckon, except all the reviews that we’ve come across say the thing is God-awful. At least Willie will have something else to sell at his new truckstop. Hell, who are we kidding, we gonna buy it anyway, even if ain’t exactly Lonesome Dove.

Official synopsis of the novel after the jump:

Next week, Willie Nelson opens up his new combination music theater/bio-diesel truck stop up at Carl’s Corner just north of Waco. It’s gonna be like a drive-thru Branson, Missouri, except for Redneck hippies instead of their parents!

The place gets it’s official grand opening on July 3, and Willie has assembled a stellar lineup to break the joint in. Among those performing the all day event are Willie, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price, who together transform into the miasmic country force called “the Last of the Breed,” as well as onery outlaws David Allan Coe and Ray Wylie Hubbard. As if that weren’t enough though, the Statesman is reporting that the July 3 show will be FREE!

4/29/08
As nearly everyone must know by now, today is Willie Nelson’s 75th birthday, and Texas’ biggest star is still blazing strong (ahem). Just to prove it, Willie spent the holiest of all head days, 4-20, in Amsterdam performing a show which included a surprise cameo from Snoop Dogg. The two sang together on Nelson’s “Superman,” and Snoop, always prepared for any occasion, appears fully tricked out in country garb - well, maybe if cowboys wore fist sized racks of gold and diamonds on their hands.

We tracked down some good video of the performance below: