Willie Nelson Gives An Intimate Central Park Performance At SummerStage

Willie Nelson gave an intimate performance to 5,000 lucky fans at a sold out City Parks SummerStage show in Central Park on Tuesday night, September 20. The show was amidst the last few dates of Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival. The festival ends on October 16 at FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California.

Willie sounded and looked great as he ran through decades worth of hits in his hour and a half performance. He started his set with “Whiskey River,” a Johnny Bush song made popular on his 1973 album “Shotgun Willie.” He followed that with “Still Is Still Moving to Me” (from 1993) and “Bloody Mary Morning,” a song inspired by his struggle to become a better parent, released in 1970.

Willie briefly turned the show over to his son Micah, aka Particle Kid. Micah told the crowd his dad once said to him, “If I die when I’m high, I’ll be halfway to heaven,” adding that it was the greatest song title he ever heard. Willie replied “Why don’t you write it”, so he penned “Die When I’m High (Halfway To Heaven.)” Continuing the theme of Willie’s well know pot smoking and cannabis activism, they also performed “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” Willie has been arrested several times over the years for marijuana possession dating back to 1974. Fast forward almost 50 years and now marijuana is legal in many states. Willie even has his own weed brand called Willie’s Reserve.

Other highlights included mega hits “Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and “On The Road Again” as well as “Always on My Mind” and Georgia (On My Mind).” The show ended with “Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I’ll Fly Away” and “It’s Hard to Be Humble.”

SInger-songwriter Charley Crockett open the show for Willie. His latest album, The Man From Waco was the second album he released this year. Crockett also won two Austin Music Awards this year. One for Musician of the Year, the other award was for Best Country Artist.

Charley Crockett Setlist: Jukebox Charley, Jamestown Ferry, I’m Just a Clown, Baby don’t tell me that, Banjo Pickin Man, Going Back to Texas, The Man From Waco

Willie Nelson Setlist: Whisky River/Stay a Little Longer, Still Is Still Moving to Me, Bloody Mary Morning, I Never Cared for You, (Die When I’m High) Halfway to Heaven, Mamma’s Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground, On The Road Again, Always on My Mind, Everything Is Bullshit, Good Hearted Woman, Georgia (On My Mind), I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train, I’ll Love you Till the Day I Die, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Write Your Own Songs, Truck Drivin’ Man, I Thought About You Lord, Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I’ll Fly Away, It’s Hard to Be Humble