Nearly 15 years ago, a group of friends came together with a vision for a new kind of live music experience.
We knew we wanted to honor the cross-section culture that has long motivated creative tradition; to preserve traditions in music, food, and craft; and to create a stage for modern-day outliers who are influenced by the legacies before us.
Luckily, we had the keys to the private Luck, TX property, and the singular opportunity to open its gates to people who, like us, value artistic tradition and want to do the work to discover talent that reflects our cultural heritage.
Built in 1985 as the set for the film “Red Headed Stranger”, Luck Texas is an old west town located in Willie Nelson’s backyard on the outskirts of Austin.
The journey to Luck started in 1979 when Willie and dear friend Bill Wittliff set out to make a film version of Willie’s concept album of the same name. While the original screenplay ended with the town burning down, Nelson had grown attached to the set and called for a change in order to preserve the property. The star built his own home on the sprawling land, and Luck, Texas was born.
Over the years as the boot prints from the past began to fade, Luck primarily served as Willie’s private hang: for games of poker in the “World Headquarters” building and Easter celebrations in the chapel. In 2012 a group of barstool dreamers with ties to the location set out to revive the town’s spirit with experiences inspired by its unique history. With Nelson’s blessing, the seeds for Luck Reunion were planted.