Outlaw Country Cruise 2018: See Photos of Lucinda Williams, Rodney Crowell
The third annual Outlaw Country Cruise, presented by Sixthman and SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel, set sail last week, bringing a sold-out crowd of 2,500 fans – as well as two dozen headliners, up-and-comers, legends and off-the-wall-ers – on a circular trip between the Port of New Orleans and the Mexican coast.
The lineup was extensive, with artists like Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, the Mavericks, Rodney Crowell, Blackberry Smoke, Shooter Jennings, Elizabeth Cook and Nikki Lane all playing multiple sets aboard the Norwegian Pearl. But the ship offered multiple non-musical attractions too, including an R-rated live reading of an upcoming Squidbillies episode, celebrity poker tournaments, “Outlaw yoga” and a pair of bowling lanes. Country music took center stage throughout most of the voyage, though, with the vacation-worthy setting adding a casual vibe to the bands’ sets. Artists and fans mingled throughout, bumping into one another in the cafeteria one minute and crossing paths outside of the staterooms the next.
“What happens on the Outlaw Cruise stays on the Outlaw Cruise!” Those words were uttered all week long, usually delivered by half-lit seafarers who’d just done something embarrassing  but fun. In defiance of that mantra, we’ve rounded up some of the best pictures from the weekend, shining a light on one of the biggest country-music events to never hit land. All photos are by Will Byington.
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Bon Voyage
Image Credit: Will Byington Steve Earle, Elizabeth Cook and Shooter Jennings and others lead the sold-out ship in a special “sail away toast” as the Norwegian Pearl leaves New Orleans.
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Steve Earle
Image Credit: Will Byington Steve Earle, whose handful of sets included a full performance of the landmark album Copperhead Road, takes a break in the bowels of the ship.
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Nikki Lane
Image Credit: Will Byington Nikki Lane and company spend an afternoon at the ship’s bowling lanes.
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Lucinda Williams and Elizabeth Cook
Image Credit: Will Byington Lucinda Williams and Elizabeth Cook share a moment backstage before interviewing one another for a special broadcast on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel.
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Raul Malo
Image Credit: Will Byington The Mavericks’ Raul Malo spends time with a fan during an afternoon meet-and-greet session.
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Ray Wylie Hubbard
Image Credit: Will Byington Ray Wylie Hubbard goes over his lines before joining the cast of Squidbillies for a live, scripted reading of a new episode.
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Blackberry Smoke
Image Credit: Will Byington As rough waves rock the boat, the members of Blackberry Smoke – including frontman Charlie Starr – take a seat for an acoustic performance inside the Stardust Theater.
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Jaime Wyatt
Image Credit: Will Byington Jaime Wyatt, a 2017 alumna of our “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know” series, serenades the pool deck with originals, Buck Owens covers and a revamped version of Big Star’s “Thirteen.”
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Shooter Jennings
Image Credit: Will Byington Shooter Jennings delivered an eclectic set that showed off his love of both country music and electronica.
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Lazy Lester
Image Credit: Will Byington Louisiana native Lazy Lester, who kicked off his career alongside blues greats like Lightnin’ Slim, takes a harp solo during the cruise’s Sunday night pre-party.
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Full House
Image Credit: Will Byington Elizabeth Cook goes all-in during a late-night poker game.
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Chuck Mead
Image Credit: Will Byington Chuck Mead, who kicked off his career in the honky-tonks of Nashville’s Lower Broadway district, pays tribute to one of the town’s most beloved bars – Robert’s Western World – during a late-night set.
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The Petty Brigade
Image Credit: Will Byington Artists, crew and SiriusXM DJs converge backstage at the Stardust Theater, following a guest-filled tribute to Tom Petty’s catalog.
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Rodney Crowell
Image Credit: Will Byington Rodney Crowell keeps things loose during his biggest show of the week, tossing a handful of old-school rock & roll songs into the set while welcoming impromptu guests like Jack Ingram to the stage.
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Elizabeth Cook
Image Credit: Will Byington Elizabeth Cook hits the boat’s outdoor stage with an electrified roots-rock band and a setlist weighted heavily toward 2016’s acclaimed Exodus of Venus.
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Nikki Lane and Jonathan Tyler
Image Credit: Will Byington Nikki Lane and Jonathan Tyler swap harmonies during one of Lane’s two outdoor sets on the pool deck.
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The Mavericks
Image Credit: Will Byington The Mavericks guitarist Eddie Perez stakes his claim as the most sharp-dressed man in Americana.
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Kinky Friedman
Image Credit: Will Byington Rarely seen aboard the Norwegian Pearl without a cigar, Kinky Friedman stares down the camera.
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Dale Watson
Image Credit: Will Byington Dale Watson brings Texas twang – and some truly fantastic hair – to the high seas.
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The Mastersons
Image Credit: Will Byington The Mastersons, who spent the week playing their own sets while also backing up Steve Earle, pose backstage after the Outlaw Country Cruise’s tribute to Tom Petty.