Robert’s Western World has announced a spectacular lineup for its August 5th block party. The venue, known as Nashville’s Home of Traditional Country Music, is celebrating its 25th year under the proprietorship of JesseLee Jones, the leader of its renowned house band, Brazilbilly.
The schedule boasts guests like roots icons The Del McCoury Band, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, and Asleep At The Wheel’s Ray Benson. The lineup also features house band The Cowpokes, with special guests David Ball, Ruby Leigh, and Logan Ledger; outlaw country artist Sarah Gayle Meech and The Meech Boys, with special guests Chuck Mead and Nikki Lane; the Wendy Newcomer Band with special guests Carlene Carter with Chris Casello, Jimmy Fortune, and the French Family Band; John England & the Western Swingers with special guests Brennen Leigh and Ranger Doug (Riders In The Sky), and Pork McElhinney and Dave Cox.
From the 1950s until the 1980s, the historic building that houses Robert’s Western World was the Sho-Bud Steel Guitar Company, which made custom instruments for everyone from Yes to The Monkees, and sold Willie Nelson his famous guitar, “Trigger,” in 1969. Robert’s is also the only venue on Lower Broadway that still welcomes pedal steel guitars on its stage. In tribute, the venue has curated a pedal steel players’ extravaganza called “Wanted for Steelin’: A Salute to Sho-Bud” hosted by Eddie Lange, with special guests Tommy Hannum, Pete Finney, Lynn Owsley, Neil Jones, Leo Grassl, and Carco Clave.
The lineup also includes Robert’s Western World’s legendary Don Kelley Band, along with a Don Kelley Band Guitarists Reunion, featuring former Kelley Band guitarists Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert, Johnny Hiland, Guthrie Trapp, J.D. Simo, Daniel Donato, Porter McClister, and David Graham. And, the celebration would not be complete without a performance from the man of honor, JesseLee Jones, and his band, Brazilbilly, closing out the evening. And, it’s Nashville, and you never know who just might show up.
Robert’s is taking over the stretch of Lower Broadway between Fourth and Fifth Avenues just outside of the venue for the celebration. The festivities are free, family-friendly, and will begin at 10:00 am CT, with bands and special guests performing until 11:00 pm CT between two stages. Click HERE for more event information.
Robert’s has also created special 25th Anniversary merchandise for purchase, including hats, T-shirts, koozies, keychains, a special edition Hatch Show Print, and more. Robert’s will serve up their world-famous “Recession Special” - a fried bologna sandwich, Lay’s potato chips, a Moon Pie, and a cold PBR - still just $6.
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Located on Lower Broadway in the famous historic district of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Robert’s Western World stands in the shadow of the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium – the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. In the early 90s, honky tonk entrepreneur Robert Wayne Moore opened Rhinestone Western Wear in the former Sho-Bud Steel Guitar Company building, which evolved into internationally-renowned live entertainment venue Robert’s Western World. On August 5, 1999, Moore decided to pass the torch and sold the business to musician JesseLee Jones.
By purchasing Robert’s Western World in 1999, Jones, together with his wife, Emily Ann, has fulfilled his life-long dream of being a business owner and musical performer in America, on a mission to keep traditional country music alive. Broadway is ever-changing, but Robert’s Western World, family-owned and operated and the last of the true honky tonks, remains a constant, protecting and celebrating the music that made Music City.
From his humble, and at times troubled, beginnings in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Jones was influenced by an eclectic repertoire of musical styles. After discovering old-time gospel, traditional country, and rockabilly music, he set his sights on a music career in America. Jones immigrated to the U.S. in 1984 and, after a long and rocky journey, he found himself in Peoria, Illinois. Robbed of his belongings on a Greyhound bus on his first day in the country, and unable to speak the language, he was taken in by a family associated with his church. Jones worked hard babysitting, cooking, doing household chores, and delivering newspapers on a long driving route, in exchange for room and board.
Jones moved to Nashville in the early ’90s and set about the hard work of making a name for himself in Music City. Moore recognized Jones’ potential and booked him to play Robert’s Western World in the spring of 1995. Robert’s house band at the time, BR-549, called Jones the “Brazilian Hillbilly,” and he became known as Brazilbilly. Since then, the band has gained much popularity and recognition playing as the house band at Robert’s Western World for the past 29 years, performing a regular Friday and Saturday night set. The band has played many other venues and events, including a performance for Vice President Al Gore as the results of the 2000 Presidential Election were announced. Brazilbilly has toured Europe and South America, hosted many live radio broadcasts of “The Midnight Jamboree” from Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadour Theater, played multiple SiriusXM Outlaw cruises, Ameripolitan Awards shows, shared stages with major country music acts, and played many special events, parties, and benefits across the U.S. The most memorable performance though, was on a cold 16th of November, 1990 when he led a courtroom of new American Citizens in singing “America the Beautiful” – the day he became a U.S. citizen.
