Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion [RECAP]
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL!! What a 248th Birthday Celebration July 4th was in 2024!
Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic
Honored and Blessed to Host this amazing once-in-a-lifetime event as Willie Nelson’s FAMILY AND FRIENDS came to Camadelphia NJ. it was The first time since 1973 that they decided to celebrate out of Willie’s home state of Texas!
It was a 4th of July to remember with my Brittany Rotondo & Drack Pack 93.3 WMMR Photographer Bob Watts. Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated America’s Birthday at Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic!
Willie’s Set
![Willie Nelson on stage](https://wmmr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/07/Willie-Nelson_1720459284_.jpg?resize=1024,774)
Willie kicked off his set as always with Johnny Bush’s “Whiskey River,” then it was “Stay All Night” and “Bloody Mary Morning.” Then he breathed in the humidity and said “I’ve been gone for a while, It’s good to be back.” Doctors gave him the ok to play and there he was in a red bandanna and black T-shirt that read “Legalize”. His Martin Acoustic Trigger he put on himself with his Red White and Blue Guitar Strap that matched The American Flag Banner that all bands used behind them.
His set list was amazing doing The Genius of Brother Ray’s Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind” and his own “On the Road Again” — was amazing as always. He also included Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, Angel Flying To Close To The Ground, Good Hearted Woman, and Kris Kristofferson’s Help Me Make It Through The Night and the live debut of the title track of his 75th Album Border. He even paid tribute to SRV w/Texas Flood and did Pearl Jam’s Just Breathe.
Bob Dylan
![Mickey Raphael on stage](https://wmmr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/07/Mickey-Raphael.jpg?resize=1024,774)
Before Willie took the stage, it was Bob Dylan with a 75-minute set with the great drummer Jim Keltner and bought out Willie’s #1 Harmonica Player Mickey Raphael on Simple Twist Of Fate. Dylan with no cameras or lights on him just candles as he stood behind his piano. He opened with Highway 61 Revisited with Ballad Of A Thin Man also his takes on the Fleetwood’s 1959 “Mr. Blue,” and a kick-ass version of Chuck Berry’s “Little Queenie” and Dave Dudley’s “Six Days On The Road,” and the Grateful Dead’s “Stella Blue.”
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
![Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on stage](https://wmmr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/07/Robert-Plant-and-Alison-Krauss_1720459281_.jpg?resize=1024,774)
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were fabulous at Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic. They played 4 Zepp Songs to keep the Led Heads happy with “Rock and Roll,” and I couldn’t believe they had guitarist JD McPherson in the band! Gallows Pole,” “The Battle of Evermore,” and “When the Levee Breaks” were the other Zep Tracks done with Appalachian mountain music, Celtic folk, and swampy Louisiana R&B beautiful feel! He thanked Alison and the musicians for saving his life. She had fun introducing him as a man now on The 4th eating “hamburgers and fries” instead of “Bird’s custard and mushy peas.”
Mavis Staples
![Mavis Staples on stage](https://wmmr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/07/Mavis-Staples.jpg?resize=1024,774)
My Favorite besides Willie was Mavis Staples! We showed her a lot of Respect when I was asked to introduce her and was so honored. Mavis is turning 85 next week so I had everyone sing Happy Birthday to her!! She did a cover of The Talking Heads’ “Slippery People” and imitated Howlin’ Wolf. She also did Parliament-Funkadelic’s “Can You Get to That.”
What a Gospel Powered Voice that has been with us for 8 Decades! She belted out “I’m just another soldier in the army of love” one of the Staple Singers’ best songs! Let’s Do It Again Soon Mavis!! I even got a kiss and heartfelt Thank You for my Intro from The Legendary Mavis Staples and sat next to Robert Plant with Jim Sutcliffe of Live Nation & EJ from our sister station 102.9 WMGK!!
Maren Morris
Also on The Show was Maren Morris. The Texas native who was the most currently mainstream act on the bill, held her own on stage with duo Bowen & Young and guitarist Celisse.
Long Live Willie!! GOD BLESS AMERICA & GOD BLESS WILLIE NELSON THE AMERICAN TREASURE!!
See more photos from Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic on my Facebook page.