Willie Nelson performs at The Backyard Live Oak Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, April 28, 2013. The concert was an early birthday celebration for Nelson, who turns 80 on Tuesday, and it was a benefit for the volunteer fire department in West, Texas, which is nearby where Nelson grew up in Abbott, Texas. A fertilizer plant exploded April 17 killing at least 14 people, including emergency responders, and hurting about 200 others. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner)
Willie Nelson performs at The Backyard Live Oak Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, April 28, 2013. The concert was an early birthday celebration for Nelson, who turns 80 on Tuesday, and it was a benefit for the volunteer fire department in West, Texas, which is nearby where Nelson grew up in Abbott, Texas. A fertilizer plant exploded April 17 killing at least 14 people, including emergency responders, and hurting about 200 others. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner)Associated Press
WEST — Musicians are working to help a Texas town decimated in a deadly fertilizer plant explosion.
Officials with the Texas Thunder Festival on Monday announced next month’s performances will benefit emergency responders and schools in West, where 14 people were killed in a blast on April 17.
Performers include the Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, the Casey Donahew Band, the Josh Abbott Band and Stoney LaRue. The festival will be held May 17-19 in Gardendale, near Odessa.
Ten first responders were among those killed in the explosion that left about 200 people hurt. Two others killed fighting the fire were posthumously memorialized as first responders.
Country great Willie Nelson performed Sunday in the Austin area to benefit the West Volunteer Fire Department. Nelson grew up in nearby Abbott.
