Staff Writer on September 22, 2023
Photo Credit: Bill Kelly
On Sunday, Sept. 17, Willie Nelson took his Outlaw Country Music Festival to Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, N.Y. The evening was stoked with collaborations and included assistance from songstress Norah Jones, Waylon Payne, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros., String Cheese Incident, and more, who arrived on stage and cut into choice material.
Highlights included Weir and company’s 11-song set, which got underway with a pair of Grateful Dead favorites, “Jack Straw” and “Ramble on Rose.” Later on, they covered Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” which flowed effortlessly into the ensuing rendition of “Eyes of the World.” In time, they brought out Mickey Raphael to add harmonica to “Standing on the Moon,” and then they capped their stage time with the Sunday night staple, “Samson and Delilah.”
Amongst a packed night of entertainment, musical accomplices moved on and off the stage, sitting in and adding to the festive atmosphere, interplayed with classic material from the likes of Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver, Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys, Kris Kristofferson and many other staple musicians that caused an impact on one of music long-lasting assets, Nelson.
Photographer Bill Kelly attended the event and shared some choice photos. Scroll down to view more.
