On Jan. 6, Willie Nelson left the Harrah’s Resort SoCal stage abruptly after singing just one song at his concert in Southern California. According to published recollections from fans in attendance, the singer began performing his customary opening number, “Whiskey River,” but was coughing and appeared to be having difficult breathing. He left the stage and did not return.
Nelson canceled three more dates he was scheduled to play that week. His longtime publicist stated at the time that Nelson had “a bad cold or the flu” and was headed back to his home in Texas to recuperate.
Nelson has not only rescheduled those canceled dates, he’s added many more for what looks like a busy 2018 calendar for the Country and Americana music legend who turns 85 on April 29.
To coincide with that landmark event, Legacy Recordings released Nelson’s newest studio album, Last Man Standing, on April 27.
Nelson’s first rescheduled performance took place on Feb. 28. By the looks of the clips below, the red headed stranger sounds as good as ever. Dates also include Alison Krauss, Van Morrison and others.
And he’s also scheduled his annual 4th of July Picnic for Austin, TX, with guests that include son Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and Edie Brickell.
Watch Nelson on his second performance back, on March 2
Watch Nelson perform a favorite on March 3
Watch “On the Road Again,” from March 6
And one more from that same show…
Willie Nelson & Family 2018 Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)
May 16 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center (with Alison Krauss)
May 18 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater (with Alison Krauss)
May 19 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre (with Alison Krauss)
May 20 – Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Amphitheatre (with Alison Krauss)
May 22 – Champaign, IL – State Farm Center (with Alison Krauss)
May 23 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center (with Alison Krauss)
May 25 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park (Outlaw Music Festival)
May 26 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion (Outlaw Music Festival)
May 27 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live (Outlaw Music Festival)
Jun 22 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center (Outlaw Music Festival)
Jun 23 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center (Outlaw Music Festival)
Jun 24 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre (Outlaw Music Festival)
Jun 26 – Mt. Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino (with John Fogerty and ZZ Top)
Jun 27 – Fort Wayne, IN – Foellinger Outdoor Theatre
Jun 29 – Little Rock, AR – Verizon Arena (Outlaw Music Festival)
Jun 30 – Dallas, TX – Starplex Pavilion (Outlaw Music Festival)
Jul 01 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (Outlaw Music Festival)
Jul 04 – Austin, TX – Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic at Austin 360 Amphitheater
Jul 28 – Murphys, CA – Ironstone Amphitheatre (with Alison Krauss)
Jul 29 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (with Alison Krauss)
Jul 31 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield (with Alison Krauss)
Aug 01 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park (with Alison Krauss)
Aug 03 – Airway Heights, WA – Northern Quest Resort and Casino (with Alison Krauss)
Aug 04 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater (with Alison Krauss)
Aug 06 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery (with Alison Krauss)
Aug 07 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center (with Alison Krauss)
Aug 09 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Pacific Amphitheatre (with Alison Krauss)
Aug 10 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts (with Alison Krauss)
Aug 11 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre (with Alison Krauss)
Sep 07 – Burgettstown, PA – KeyBank Pavilion (Outlaw Music Festival)
Sep 08 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium (Outlaw Music Festival)
Sep 09 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stadium (Outlaw Music Festival)
Sep 12 – Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium (with Van Morrison)
Sep 14 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain (Outlaw Music Festival)
Sep 15 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion (Outlaw Music Festival)
Sep 16 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center (Outlaw Music Festival)
Sep 21 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center (Outlaw Music Festival)
Sep 23 – Saratoga Springs, NY – SPAC (Outlaw Music Festival)
Oct 12 – Laughlin, NV – E Center
Oct 17 – Rohnert Park, CA – Graton Resort and Casino
Oct 19 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan
Oct 20 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan
Nov 09 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort (rescheduled from Feb. 9)
Nov 10 – Macon, CA – Macon City Auditorium (rescheduled from Feb. 7)
Nov 12 – Estero, FL – Germain Arena (rescheduled from Feb. 12)
Nov 14 – Panama City, FL – Marina Civic Center (rescheduled from Feb. 10)
Watch Willie Nelson & Family perform “Whiskey River” at 2017’s Farm Aid
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