Texas festival news

Willie Nelson's Luck Reunion unveils star-studded lineup for 11th annual festival

Willie Nelson's music fest is back with 35+ artists.

Courtesy of The Backyard

SXSW is fast approaching, and with it, one of the best excuses for visitors to get outside the Austin City Limits: Willie Nelson's Luck Reunion will take place the same week as SXSW out on his beloved ranch, Luck, TX.

Taking place on Thursday, March 16, this year's festival features more than 35 acts — on top of the incredible culinary lineup already announced for the days surrounding the main event.

“Team Luck is thrilled to welcome a diverse lineup of performers to Willie’s backyard, including fresh new talent and some familiar faces who have been longtime members of the Luck Family,” said festival organizers, via release.

A longtime partner in promoting the iconic event Southwest Airlines celebrates the fourth year of the Artists On The Rise To Luck program which brings Angel White, Arcy Drive and Pearla to join the Luck family. Through the Artist On The Rise platform, Southwest supports up-and-coming talent to give them a lift in their careers.

A new addition to the festival this year is The Bread & Roses Community Conversations Stage, hosting three engaging discussions throughout the day. Moderated conversations between musicians, activists, chefs, and local family farmers will include Celebrating Indigenous Foodways and Food Sovereignty, The Role of the Artist in Advancing Social Justice, and Family Farmers: Leading the Way with Equity, Food, and Climate Solutions. With intentional learning and community engagement in mind, The Bread & Roses Community Conversations Stage embraces cultural exchanges across industries and alongside fans.

The full lineup for the 2023 Luck Reunion is below (** indicates a Southwest Airlines Artist On The Rise):

A Tribute to Doug Sahm & The Texas Tornados featuring Shawn Sahm and Friends
A Song for Leon: A Tribute to Leon Russell featuring Beau Bedford, Robert Ellis, and Special Guests
Angel White **
Arcy Drive **
Black Opry Revue featuring Sug Daniels, Aaron Vance, Nikki Morgan & Nicky Diamonds
BMI Songwriters Circle featuring John Baumann, Bella White and Poet Hawkins
Bob Schneider
Dallas Burrow
Devon Gilfillian
Drayton Farley
Elvie Shane
Eric D. Johnson
Ethel Cain
Guster
Hermanos Gutiérrez
J. Creek Cloggers
Jaime Wyatt
Jason Scott & The High Heat
Jimmie Dale Gilmore & The West Texas Exiles
Katie Pruitt
Matthew Logan Vasquez
Night Cap
Particle Kid
Pearla **
Peter One
Rattlesnake Milk
Sadurn
Shane Smith & The Saints
Sierra Ferrell
Sir Woman
Spoon
Terry Allen & The Panhandle Mystery Band
The Band of Heathens
the GOLDEN DREGS
The Heavy Heavy
The War and Treaty
Thee Sacred Souls
Wild Child
Willie Nelson & Family
Willis Alan Ramsey

Fans are encouraged to subscribe to Luck Presents’ email list and follow Luck Reunion on social media to grab their opportunity to attend this unique event.

luck reunion willie nelson

major award

Las Colinas' Ritz-Carlton gains entry into elite club with Michelin Key

Photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

The lounge at the new Ritz-Carlton Spa in Las Colinas.

An iconic luxury retreat in Irving's Las Colinas district is one of seven Texas properties awarded a coveted Michelin Key this year. The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas — which was the Four Seasons prior to a multimillion dollar renovation and rebranding — joins several other Texas resorts to make this year's list, including:

In its entry on the Michelin website, the Guide’s inspectors admire the way The Ritz-Carlton's sprawling 400-acre retreat, complete with golf course, several hundred guest rooms, suites, and poolside villas "all but blend into a hilly Las Colinas landscape."

They add that although "golf is the draw, tennis and pickleball courts, three pools and a spa keep guests busy off the course."

Hotel representatives in a press release said they are honored to earn what they consider a "top-of-the-industry achievement" that is a "true testament to our ladies and gentlemen who work tirelessly to deliver unforgettable service."

"Following our massive property transformation," they add, "this accolade underscores our commitment to establishing a new benchmark for luxury hospitality here in North Texas."

Announced Friday, September 18, Michelin added 65 properties in America to its list of Key-worth stays, bringing the overall total to more than 350 hotels nationwide. Several Dallas-area hotels have previously been awarded keys, including last year's recipients Casa Duro on Greenville Avenue, Hotel Swexan in Uptown, Hotel Zaza in Uptown, and Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, all of which received a one key ranking.

The Bowie House, Auberge Collection in Fort Worth maintained its two-key ranking from 2024.

The state’s only two key properties are the Commodore Perry Estate (Austin) and Hotel Emma (San Antonio). No properties in Texas hold three Michelin Keys.

Similar to the famous Michelin Stars awarded to restaurants, hotels may receive one, two, or three keys, which is defined as follows:

One Michelin Key for hotels that offer "very special" stays with service that "provides significantly more than similarly priced establishments."
Two Michelin Keys for "exceptional stays" where memorable guest experiences are "always guaranteed" with a special emphasis on the hotel's design or architecture.
Three Michelin Keys for hotels that provide "extraordinary stays" for "the ultimate in comfort and service, style and elegance."

hotels awards michelin keys las colinas