It’s been a rough month for natural disasters affecting North America, and the artist community has come together to show their support in various benefit concerts around the country. On September 22 at Austin’s Frank Erwin Center, great legends Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and more hosted the Harvey Can’t Mess With Texas benefit concert. Performances from Leon Bridges, Lyle Lovett, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Ryan Bingham and Ha*Ash also highlighted the event. The house band featured Charlie Sexton as musical director with Asleep At The Wheel. All proceeds from the concert went to benefit the Rebuild Texas Fund.
The event was live streamed on Friday night, and was highlighted by several surprise moments and collaborations. Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt performed a duet of “Texas Flood” by Stevie Ray Vaughn; Nelson teamed up with Leon Bridges to perform his original “Funny How Time Slips Away”; Paul Simon delivered versions of “America” by Simon & Garfunkel and a cover of Ernest Tubb‘s “Waltz Across Texas” with his wife Edie Brickell; James Taylor performed “Country Road,” as well as “You Can’t Close Your Eyes” with Bonnie Raitt. The performers all joined together for a concert-closing rendition of “On The Road Again.”
You can watch the full performance in the video below, courtesy of KHOU 11: