Outlaw Music Festival
Montage Mountain Scranton, PA
September 18 2016
by Ryan O’Malley (photos and words)

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Over the last few years, The Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pa. has become a hotspot on the festival circuit, with national festivals like Camp Bisco and the Peach Music Festival calling Scranton home. This Sunday will mark a new festival as the inaugural Outlaw Music Festival makes its debut at The Pavilion.

Headlined by country music icon Willie Nelson and Family, the event also features Neil Young and Promise of the Real, Sheryl Crow, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Lee Ann Womack, Brothers Osborne, and Scranton’s own Cabinet. According to a press release from Blackbird Presents, the event is set to kick off at 1 p.m. and run until 11 p.m.

The release also notes “the picturesque setting and wide variety of festival attractions (including local cuisine, beer, and crafts by local artisans) will provide music fans in the region with an unforgettable festival experience. ”

While the lineup features some of the biggest names in music, many of the acts are familiar with the Scranton area as they have played the city in the past. Nelson has been a recurring character in Scranton, including previous stops at the Scranton Cultural Center and, more recently, an appearance at the 2015 installment of the Peach Music Festival.

Same goes for Robinson, whose previous outfit, The Black Crowes, also performed at the Scranton Cultural Center, numerous H.O.R.D.E. Festivals at the old Montage Mountain Amphitheater, and a 2013 appearance at the Peach Music Festival.

Young, while familiar to Scranton, has not been through the area in quite some time. In August of 1997, Young and his old backing band, Crazy Horse, delivered a memorable set as part of that year’s H.O.R.D.E. Festival, which saw the outfit rip through a 90 minute set in the middle of a torrential downpour. A few years later in 2003, Young and Crazy Horse came to The Pavilion as part of the “Greendale” tour which supported Young’s concept album of the same name. The stop left a lasting impression in the area as, after performing the concept album, the band returned for four multi-song encores including “Hey, Hey, My, My,” “Down By the River,” “Cadillac Sedan,” “Powderfinger,” “Cinnamon Girl,” “Cortez the Killer” and “Rocking in the Free World.”

For his appearance at the Outlaw Music Festival, Young will be joined by Promise of the Real, a band featuring Nelson’s sons Lukas and Micah. The outfit has been with Young for over a year now, and has been receiving high praise for the jamming and energy they bring to his enormous catalogue.

Cabinet, a seven piece jamgrass outfit based in Scranton, has been on a steady increase in popularity due to their catchy fusion of bluegrass and acoustic jamming along with incessant touring. Over the past few years, Cabinet has been a fixture at the Peach Music Festival, and has started their own annual festival, Susquehanna Breakdown, which takes place every year at The Pavilion.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Geoff Gordon and the entire Live Nation team to bring this incredible musical experience to fans in Scranton and its surrounding communities,” Keith Wortman, CEO of Blackbird Presents, said in the press release.

From Farm Aid 1994

Tickets for the Outlaw Music Festival are currently on sale. For more information, visit   https://blackbirdpresents.com/outlaw-music-festival/

To Submit a review or story for consideration hit us at [email protected]

Check out the Live Music News and Review.com Facebook page for updates and announcements.