By the time Willie Nelson took the stage under the full moon on Thursday, ahead of the lunar eclipse, the 2025 Luck Reunion had already cemented itself as a magical, genre-spanning spectacle.
Hosted at Nelson’s famed Luck, Texas ranch, this year’s festival balanced tradition with the unexpected between tentpole legends, rising Americana stars, and a surprise Arcade Fire set in the streets of an Old West movie town.
The festival always manages to keep its finger on the pulse of rising talent, offering a diverse bill of new voices and old souls year after year. Ken Pomeroy left the crowd in stunned silence during her soundcheck, then pulled them deep into the tent with poignant storytelling and a voice that carries generations of heartache.
Viral Americana champion Jesse Welles delivered what sounded like an amazing and intimate set in the Chapel stage – at least, from what I could tell by jealously peering in through the windows. I wasn’t able to weasel my way in after waiting in line for an hour.
After having my fill of waiting in line, I went to catch 18-year-old guitar prodigy Grace Bowers, performing for the third time at Luck but the first on an actual stage. She shredded through a jam-heavy set with a bluesy swagger and even brought out Margo Price for a song, sharing that they met at the festival three years ago – a testament to Luck’s unique ability to foster artistic relationships.
The Deslondes moved smoothly through their set under the sunlit Revival tent, the perfect setting for the band’s velvety, swampy Americana tunes. Across the grounds on the Saloon stage, aka the Austin Opry House, Aly & AJ serenaded a crowd of young women and their dutiful boyfriends with breezy pop hits from their 2023 album With Love From.
Of course, the old guard still stood strong. Lucinda Williams’ set was nothing short of a masterclass, her weathered voice wrapping around each lyric with raw power. And then there was the man himself, Willie – who, at this point, is less a performer and more a spiritual presence presiding over the event. He brought out friends like Katie Crutchfield from Waxahatchee, Charley Crockett, Particle Kid, Margo Price, and just about every act from the festival that was still around.
Between Julien Baker and Torres’ heart-wrenching queer love ballads and the Wonder Women of Country’s spirited performance of “Pray the Gay Away,” a takedown of homophobia, it was clear that the festival isn’t just welcoming diversity – it’s celebrating it. The crowd roared in support, proving that country music is more inclusive than its reputation often suggests.
Then came the left field surprises. Unannounced guest Jessica Simpson took to the Barn stage to sing “With You” and other early 2000s hits, a surreal moment for those of us that played her 2003 album In This Skin into the ground. And I’m not sure what Arcade Fire was doing there…The indie rock band, apparently on a comeback tour following allegations of sexual misconduct and assault in 2022 against frontman Win Butler, performed in the streets of the Luck Ranch. Under the full moon, the set felt like a pagan ritual.
Driving out of the festival was its own fever dream. While attempting to navigate the grounds’ long dirt road, a white-tailed buck slowly walked in front of my car and gave me an uncomfortably knowing stare. Perhaps he was the spirit of country music bidding me a goodnight. Perhaps I was sleep-deprived, sunburnt, and dehydrated, and he was never there at all. Real or imagined, the Luck Reunion remains full of surprises.
This article appears in March 14 • 2025.
