Willie Nelson taking his July 4 picnic back to Austin

Willie Nelson’s July 4 picnic returns to Austin after four years in Fort Worth with 20 acts on two stages at an all-day concert at Circuit of the Americas, promotors have announced.

Longtime Nelson compadres — such as Merle Haggard, Leon Russell, Billy Joe Shaver, Johnny Bush and Asleep at the Wheel — will share the bill with younger-generation acts including Eric Church, Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Isbell and Jamey Johnson. A contingent of Nelson’s own clan will also take part.

The picnic will be on the grounds of the 2-year-old racetrack and in the Austin360 Amphitheater inside the track southeast of Austin.

Billy Bob’s Texas announced its own two-day event July 3-4 without Willie.

Picnic tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. April 10 at livenation.com, ticketmaster.com and circuitoftheamericas.com, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

— Staff report

This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 8:39 AM with the headline "Willie Nelson taking his July 4 picnic back to Austin."