First-Ever Lucktoberfest Reduces Planned 10-Day Festival to 3 Days

Just three weeks out from its planned start date, the first-ever Lucktoberfest has been reduced from 10 days of music-focused programming to just three days. (Anyone remember when Sound on Sound Fest 2017 announced cancellation on the first day of ACL Fest?)

Update, October 7, 3pm:

Cutting back on over half the acts, Lucktoberfest maintains headliners Paul Cauthen and Los Lobos on Friday, Tanya Tucker and Orville Peck on Saturday, and Alex Meixner and Shinyribs on Sunday. Saturday also holds onto "The Desert Roses Queen Southern Glamour Fashion Show" programming. Find the full updated lineup below, and tickets – which remain at $35 daily in addition to $25 parking and $40 shuttle options – at Lucktoberfest.com.

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Original post:

This morning, the organizing Luck Presents team announced on social media: “At this point, we have made the difficult decision to scale back Lucktoberfest’s programming… We made this choice due to the uncertainty of the touring market right now.”

The debut event takes place at Luck, Texas, continuing booking activation at Willie Nelson's Wild West-themed Spicewood ranch. The announcement follows a Flaming Lips show at the venue last week, where attendees reported only moderate crowds. Announced in the summer to run Oct. 28-Nov. 6, Lucktoberfest’s new abbreviated dates are Friday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 30.

Luck’s statement added that ticket buyers will be notified via email “regarding transfers and refunds" and to expect an updated lineup announcement at 3pm today. Previously-announced headliners included Tanya Tucker, Sierra Ferrell, and Nikki Lane to helm an all-women night, alongside Orville Peck, Los Lobos, Sasami, Fantastic Negrito, Paul Cauthen, Bob Schneider, Alex Meixner, and Shinyribs.

In July, Luck Presents’ Ellee Fletcher Durniak – granddaughter of the late "Sister Bobbie" Nelson – said the festival was intended as a more accessible alternative to the in-demand Luck Reunion, the team's annual event during South by Southwest. Weeklong Lucktoberfest passes started at $100, with daily tickets beginning at a very affordable $35, in addition to $25 parking and $40 shuttle options.

"Lucktoberfest is an opportunity for more people to come experience the space, and make it a little more accessible and less stressful getting tickets," she told the Chronicle in July. "We're really excited that people who may not be able to get tickets for the Reunion can come and have an awesome time at the ranch without cursing their computer."

COMING SOON: Stay tuned for our new 3-Day Lucktoberfest line-up dropping at 3:00PM CST today…#lucktoberfest #luckpresents #lucktx pic.twitter.com/iFdZCGKyYL

— Luck Reunion (@LuckReunion) October 7, 2022