Willie Nelson's Low Key Family Hoedown

© Dave Vann / RumBum.com

Willy Nelson and Trigger at Rothbury 09

Legendary hippie-cowboy and Grammy winner, Willie Nelson, took the Odeum stage the closing night of ROTHBURY and serenaded the crowed for a little over ninety minutes. With his trademark braids and his ol' guitar, Trigger, Willie lead the crowd through many of his greatest hits, backed up by his family and friends. 

While Sunday afternoon gently faded into evening, those seated on the lawn listened as the great American storyteller sang about his lifelong, hard-earned lessons. With sweet melodies resonating through the cracks in Trigger, Willie encouraged mothers not to let their babies grow up to be cowboys.

The crowed swayed in unison at the familiar tunes. A few chuckled when Willie began singing the first lyrics to "Rainy Day Blues," "Well it's cloudy in the morning and it's gonna be raining in the afternoon."  They giggled to themselves because the day was anything but clouds and rain. In fact, it was an ideal day that accompanied the pitch perfect performance. 

On the whole, the concert was a very laid-back, come-as-you-are setting and rang pitch perfect for ROTHBURY. As Willy played, some folks worked on their tans while others ate mushroom pitas and frozen lemonade. Fans bopped their heads and tapped their toes to "On the Road Again."  Couples young and old danced together as Willie sang his cover of the Brenda Lee song, "Always On My Mind." Families, mirroring the togetherness of the family and friends on stage, sat on blankets together, relaxing away the few previous remaining hours of ROTHBURY.

It was just the kind of show you'd have expected from Willie. Nothing too flashy. Nothing remotely self-indulgent. Just a cowboy and his faithful guitar. However, the end of the show featured a fun cameo with Toots and the Maytals (who played on the Odeum earlier in the day) joining Willie on stage to sing "Still Is Still Moving," a song they recorded together in 2003 on the Toots and the Maytals album True Love.

As Willie Nelson & Family exited the Odeum stage, there were just a few acts left to play at Rothbury, but suddenly, ROTHBURY felt complete.

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