Thursday, June 26, 2008
By Carl Hoover
Tribune-Herald entertainment editor
Texas music legend Willie Nelson officially opens his Willie’s Place Theater and Whiskey River Saloon in Carl’s Corner next week in true Willie form: big names, free admission, a fluid musical schedule and a foggy sense of anticipated crowd size.
Nelson joins country stars Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Johnny Bush to headline a 14-act lineup scheduled to perform July 3 at his Willie’s Place, a multifaceted truck stop/restaurant/dance hall/saloon/gift shop located in Carl’s Corner, north of Hillsboro.
"In Like Quinn" at the Willie's Place opening
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Only the saloon and dance hall will open this week, with the rest of the complex, including the truck stop selling BioWillie biodiesel fuel, set to become operational by Labor Day weekend.
The satellite radio provider XM Radio, which carries a Willie’s Place channel, begins broadcasting the channel from a studio set up in Willie’s Place next week and will air Nelson’s July 3 performance live, said Willie’s Place radio personality Eddie Kilroy. Kilroy is on the air from 6 to 10 a.m. weekday mornings on Willie’s Place, channel XM 13.
For those who’ve been searching in vain for tickets to next week’s shows, there’s a reason you can’t find them: The events are all free.
“I asked Willie about tickets, and he said, ‘If you wanted people to come to your house, would you charge them?’ ” Kilroy recalled. “That’s Willie for you.”
Nelson will play a private benefit concert Monday night at the Willie’s Place Theater, with proceeds earmarked for the Freddy Powers Parkinson’s Foundation. Tuesday and Wednesday will feature Texas country singer-songwriters Paula Nelson, Ray Wylie Hubbard and David Allan Coe, in that order, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Whiskey River Saloon.
On July 3, the music begins at 10 a.m. and continues through midnight on the three stages at Willie’s Place: indoor stages in the saloon and the dance hall, Willie’s Place Theater, plus an outdoor stage set up for the occasion.
The musical lineup — as of midweek, at least — consisted of Leona Williams, Darrell and Mona McCall, Justin Trevino, Mike Siler, Mack Abernathy, Heather Miles, Freddy Powers, Pauline Reese, Megan Tubb, Bush, Haggard, Price and Nelson.
Kilroy said the only firm performance time is Nelson at 9:30 p.m., due to the live XM broadcast but noted the Texas country legend likely would play with others on the three stages throughout the day and evening.
A posting on the BioWillie Web site listed a previous lineup that had Haggard scheduled to play at 6 p.m., Price at 8 and Nelson at 10, but Kilroy noted the performers could be onstage an hour before or after those times.
There’s no set admission, but those attending are encouraged to make a donation to Freddy Powers Parkinson’s Foundation. Food and drink will be sold at the event as well.
The Willie’s Place Theater holds around 1,500 to 2,000 people, but space around the outdoor stage offers room for more.
Regional promotion for the opening week events has been surprisingly low-key given the fame of performers such as Nelson, Haggard and Price. Kilroy, however, has plugged the concerts regularly on his show and says feedback from listeners makes him believe a sizable crowd may show up for the July opening.
“I had a guy from Connecticut call to say he and his family were coming to Texas to see two things: the Alamo and Willie’s Place,” he chuckled.
choover@wacotrib.com
757-5749
