Kept Weird

Inside Willie Nelson's Epic SXSW BBQ

Photos from a shindig at OG Austin musical luminary/legend Willie Nelson’s private ghost town at South by Southwest.

J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

By James JoinerMar 20, 2015

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson1_mfclle — Okay, so you’ve spent almost a solid week beating the streets at SXSW. You’re on taco overload, the thought of another high-five-heavy bro-down makes even free booze sound bad, and to top it all off the mounds of complimentary brisket are starting to weigh on your gall bladder. What’s to be done? How about a shindig at OG Austin musical luminary / straight up legend Willie Nelson’s private ghost town?

J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson2_jh5uud — Featuring a bevvy of bands both established and soon to be, the fourth annual Heartbreaker Banquet unfolded Thursday in the alcove of Luck, Texas, AKA Willie’s big back yard about 40 minutes from downtown Austin. Loads of artisan types were on hand plying their wares, as well as the ATX-de-rigeur fleet of fancy food trucks and free-flowing vodka from hometown heroes Tito’s. Highlights included gutter honky tonk hero JP Harris’ baritone, every single thing Clear Plastic Masks did, the Heartless Bastards, Leon Bridges soulfully bridging the gap between the good ol’ days and today, Nikki Lane burning ‘em down, and, naturally, Mr. Nelson himself, who brought the whole thing to a head with a string of classics that had every dusty boot in the place stomping, no matter how tired they were just hours before.

J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson4_tzjqqs — Featuring a bevvy of bands both established and soon to be, the fourth annual Heartbreaker Banquet unfolded Thursday in the alcove of Luck, Texas, AKA Willie’s big back yard about 40 minutes from downtown Austin. Loads of artisan types were on hand plying their wares, as well as the ATX-de-rigeur fleet of fancy food trucks and free-flowing vodka from hometown heroes Tito’s. Highlights included gutter honky tonk hero JP Harris’ baritone, every single thing Clear Plastic Masks did, the Heartless Bastards, Leon Bridges soulfully bridging the gap between the good ol’ days and today, Nikki Lane burning ‘em down, and, naturally, Mr. Nelson himself, who brought the whole thing to a head with a string of classics that had every dusty boot in the place stomping, no matter how tired they were just hours before. We'll be there.

J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson5_vko0c5 — JP Harris and an accomplice warming up for a session in the old church at Willie Nelson's Luck, Texas.
J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson3_txv0bz — Harris, the Nashville-based outlaw honky tonk crooner, strums at Willie Nelson's Heartbreakers Banquet.
J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson6_f8bl2w — It's all sunny skies and sunnier dispositions at Willie's house.
J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson7_tx9qg1 — An Indian Motorcycles installation in the midst of Willie Nelson's private ghost town, in Luck, Texas.
J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson8_h1ftbe — Lindi Ortega poses for a tintype portrait with Giles Clement at the 4th annual Heartbreakers Banquet.
J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson9_oqnn77 — Do not feed the dog.
J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/20/closing-out-sxsw-with-willie-nelson/150320-joiner-nelson10_w9bqep — Willie Nelson and his family bringing down the house at the 4th annual Heartbreakers Banquet.
J James Joiner/The Daily Beast

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