Luckenbach, Texas

Luckenbach is a tiny unincorporated community in the Texas Hill Country — population approximately 25 — that became one of the most mythologised locations in country music after Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson released 'Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)' in 1977. The song, which took Luckenbach as a symbol of simplicity and authenticity against the commercialism of Nashville, reached number one on the country charts and turned the tiny town's dance hall and general store into a destination. Nelson, who had worked alongside Jennings as one of the leaders of the Outlaw Country movement, had deep connections to the Texas Hill Country and its music culture.

Luckenbach had been founded as a German immigrant settlement in the nineteenth century and operated a post office, general store, and dance hall for decades before becoming famous. When Hondo Crouch and friends purchased the entire town for $30,000 in 1971, they began hosting informal music gatherings that attracted local pickers and, increasingly, serious musicians. The dance hall hosted Jerry Jeff Walker, the Lost Gonzo Band, and various figures of the Austin music scene. The atmosphere was deliberately anti-commercial — a counterpoint to the Nashville establishment.

Luckenbach today operates as a music venue and Texas heritage attraction, with regular live music at the dance hall and bar. The general store, mail box, and surrounding oaks are much photographed. It is a functioning if self-consciously legendary small community in the Hill Country between Fredericksburg and Johnson City, easily reached from Austin or San Antonio. The Willie Nelson connection, in particular, draws visitors from around the world.