NAMES IN THE NEWS : Nelson Slates Musical Picnic

Willie Nelson will hold one of his not-quite-annual July 4 musical picnics this year, a promoter says.

Promoter Fred Smith said Nelson’s concert, the first since 1987, will be modeled after earlier July 4 picnics that began in 1973. It will be held at Austin’s Zilker Park.

“The idea is to take it back to the way it all started out, with Willie and his friends,” Smith said.

The 1987 gathering proved a financial dud when only about 15,000 people showed up at the pasture site south of Dallas.