30 Days, 30 Artists
Willie Nelson will hit SXSW stage as part of iTunes festival invasion
Name: Willie Nelson
Featured track: "From Here to the Moon," featuring Dolly Parton, from To All The Girls
Genre: Country
City of origin: Abbott, Texas
In one sentence: "Nelson’s guitar can sound like an aside — a pointed comment — to make sure you know that his blues are hopeful, light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel blues." - Dallas Morning News
Why we chose him: Willie Nelson is definitely not an under-the-radar artist — the Red Headed Stranger's career spans more than six decades — and he's certainly no stranger to the Austin music scene. But having an icon like Nelson on the local stage during a week of musical discovery fits the bill for a special spotlight. Perhaps indie-focused music explorers will take an hour or two out of their jam-packed Red River showcase crawls to experience the Texas-grown sounds of a true legend. (Even if it does means signing on to be part of the just-announced iTunes Festival invasion.)
Official showcase: Saturday, March 15 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater