For Immediate Release                                           March 30, 2015

Contact: Elaine Schock or Meredith Louie

              SHOCK INK 818-932-0001

 Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic

Presented by Budweiser

Returns Home To Austin, Texas

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Live Nation, C3 Presents and Circuit of The Americas are proud to announce the return of Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic to Austin, Texas.  The legendary Willie Nelson plays host to one of America's most celebrated festivals, as the 4th of July Picnic returns to the Austin area for the first time in five years.  Joining Willie at this year's party is a cavalcade of his star-studded friends.    The 42nd edition of the picnic takes place at the Circuit of The Americas' Austin360 Amphitheater on Saturday, July 4th. The all-day event on America's birthday features performances from more than 20 artists on two stages including Willie Nelson & Family, Eric Church, Merle Haggard, Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson, Asleep At The Wheel, Jamey Johnson, Jason Isbell, Leon Russell, Billie Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard, David Allan Coe, Chris Stapleton, Johnny Bush, Insects VS Robots, Folk Uke, Amber Digby, Raelyn Nelson Band, Pauline Reese and more.   "The first 4th of July picnic was outside Austin at Dripping Springs, Texas," said Willie Nelson, "I got the idea from Woodstock about how music could bring people from different places together. I had just moved to Austin and had come to

realize what a great music center it was and could be. I thought it would be a nice idea to, this year have it back in Austin, but at a more comfortable venue for the fans AND the pickers. The Austin360 Amphitheater at Circuit of The Americas is that place. It's the Formula 1 track with a beautiful Amphitheater in the middle of the circuit. Some of the original artists will be returning: me, Leon Russell, Billy Joe Shaver, David Allan Coe; along with some younger acts we are happy to have on the program like Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson, Jamey Johnson, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Amber Digby, my son Micah with Insects VS Robots, my daughter Amy with Arlo Guthrie's daughter Cathy and their band Folk Uke, and my daughter Paula. Also on our show this year are my friends Eric Church, Merle Haggard, Asleep At The Wheel, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Johnny Bush."    

To accommodate the 20 artists, this year's 4th of July Picnic will feature two stages: the main Austin360 Amphitheater stage and a second stage located on the Grand Plaza. The Grand Plaza will have picnic tables where fans can eat, drink, celebrate and watch their favorite artists, as well as a shopping area featuring a wide variety of Texas based vendors. This year's picnic will also incorporate a very special fireworks display to commemorate the show and to celebrate America's birthday. SiriusXM will be broadcasting live on Willie's own SiriusXM channel, Willie's Roadhouse.

Standard parking lots at Circuit of The Americas open at 10:00 a.m., with premium parking lots opening an hour earlier at 9:00 a.m. and gates to the Austin360 Amphitheater open at 11:00 a.m. Standard Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Premium Parking, Bus Parking, RV Parking, as well as camp sites are also available for purchase at the time tickets are purchased.

For more information on the event please visit www.circuitoftheamericas.com.

ABOUT WILLIE NELSON:

With a six-decade career and 200 plus albums, this iconic Texan is the creative genius behind the historic recordings of Crazy, Red Headed Stranger, and Stardust. Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In the last five years alone he delivered eight new album releases (of which one resulted in a Grammy Award win), released a Top 10 New York Times' bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, and graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. In 2013, Willie's albums included Let's Face The Music And Dance, an album of deep pop country repertoire classics performed with transformative patented ease by Nelson and Family, his long-time touring and recording ensemble; and To All The Girls... which features 18 duets with music's top female singers. In 2014, he released Band of Brothers, a 14-track studio album of new recording that debuted at #5 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart and #1 on Billboard's Country album chart, and December Day: Willie's Stash Vol. 1, an eclectic album collaboration of intimate new recordings from Nelson and Sister Bobbie Nelson. This year he will add two more titles. On May 5, 2015, "It's A Long Story: My Life," the unvarnished and complete story of Nelson, will hit bookshelves. Later in the year he will release a new album with Merle Haggard titled Django And Jimmie. www.willienelson.com. For more information contact Elaine Schock at [email protected].

ABOUT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS:

Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, is the only purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the United States designed for all classes of racing. The 3.4-mile racetrack hosts the world's most prestigious sporting events, including Formula 1, MotoGP, Lone Star Le Mans and ESPN's X Games. The 1,500-acre campus is also home to the Austin360 Amphitheater-PollStar's 2013 "Best New Major Concert Venue" and a 2014 "Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue" Pollstar nominee-impressive meeting and hospitality spaces and an iconic 25-story observation tower that offers 360-degree views of the circuit, amphitheater and downtown Austin. For more information and to download videos and photos, visit www.CircuitofTheAmericas.com. For an experience as unique as Austin and a rush you'll never forget, visit Circuit of The Americas, where exhilaration happens.