Photos and Review: Jacob Previte
The Outlaw Music Festival headlined by none other than Mr. Outlaw himself, Willie Nelson, made a stop at the Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse, NY on Sunday July 16. Willie made sure he had plenty of incredible musicians with him to keep fans entertained all afternoon and evening.
He brought along rising country star, Margo Price straight out of Nashville, Tenessee. Her debut album Midwest Farmer’s Daughter has received a lot of positive reviews and was recorded in three days at none other than the renowned SUN studios. Margo has a beautiful voice and set a pleasant tone for the rest of the show.
Willie also had Sheryl Crow in his arsenal. In my opinion she was one of the best performances of the evening. She has the most radiant voice and a vibrant stage presence. Her band is truly talented. The whole set sounded amazing. More importantly, Crow made sure the fans had a good time. She didn’t let anyone feel left out as she got close and personal with as many fans as possible. She invited everyone to sing along to her most well-known hits,”All I Wanna Do,” “If It Makes You Happy,” and “Soak Up The Sun” to name a few.
It was time for a slightly different style of music when rock band My Morning Jacket took the stage. With Jim James and his incredible voice at the helm, My Morning Jacket produces an Indie, Pjnk Floyd-esque sound. They Blend Country and rock in a way that is experimental with a psychedelic spin. It was a total shift in sound but it worked.
Up next was the legend, the outlaw, the man… Willie Nelson & Family. At 84, Willie puts on a better performance than many younger musicians. He pours his heart and soul into every song and is exceptionally humble. He makes sure to acknowledge everyone on the stage with him and never took all the credit. He performed many of his greatest tunes and covers, “Highwayman,” “On the Road Again,” “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys,” “Beer for My Horses” and more.
The Outlaw Music Festival would not have been complete without a few key songs, “Whiskey River” and “Roll me Up and Smoke When I Die.” The evening ended with the perfect finale, a cover by Mr. Hank Williams, “I Saw the Light.” Margo Price and My Morning Jacket joined Willie and the Family onstage to pay tribute to the American rebel. Willie left the stage as the band played on, waving and blowing kisses to the crowd.
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