Homegrown's alright with me
39 years on, Farm Aid — the annual all-day benefit concert — still raises awareness and dishes powerful performances.
Farm Aid 24
Sept. 21, Saratoga Performing Arts Centre
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY—Driving through the Hudson River Valley following the white lines of the I-90 Thruway, fields of cattle, single grain silos, and weathered barns dot the countryside—a sign the family farm is still alive in New York State. These agricultural sights also reminds me of how precarious this vocation is in the 21st century.
This past weekend, I travelled more than 600 kilometres from Waterloo, Ontario to Saratoga Springs, NY to attend my seventh Farm Aid held at the Saratoga Performing Arts Centre (SPAC). I was not alone. Many Canadians made the trek; so did music lovers from across the United States judging by a scan of license plates in the parking lot and talking to a handful of the 21,000 plus in attendance.
Apart from the cause, political talk was absent. The day was about the farmers and the music. Artists urged concertgoers to listen and to learn by visiting the Homegrown Village booths and talking to farmers to understand the challenges they face in making a living.
Willie Nelson founded Farm Aid 39 years ago after hearing Bob Dylan remark at Live Aid that Americans should do something similar to aid their farmers at home, who in the mid-1980s faced a record number of foreclosures. Dylan’s idea caught Willie’s ear and after ruminating for a while, he took action. Nelson recruited Neil Young and John Mellencamp to join this crusade. The first benefit concert occurred in Champagne, Illinois in 1985; it drew a crowd of close to 80,000.
The not-for-profit has now raised nearly $80 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture and to rally against the corporate-run factory farms that monopolize pricing and distribution. Almost four decades since that inaugural benefit, the plight of the family farmer remains relevant — especially with rising production and labor costs, combined with extreme and unpredictable weather.
During the mid-morning press conference, regional BIPOC farmers shared stories of their struggles and their successes. The common refrains: “push back against the corporate chaos, market manipulation and greed,” “unite in the fight against factory farms,” and “love and respect the earth.”
Neil Young, sporting a black t-shirt with the “Earth” printed in capital white letters — and wearing a matching black fedora and jean jacket — looked like a grumpy gramps sitting on the stage during the presser. When he stood and spoke, the 78-year-old offered some simple wisdom.
© Brian Bruner / Bruner Photo
“Every morning, when you turn on your fossil fuel mobile and start polluting, ask yourself : ‘Are there other ways to get where I’m going?’ and ‘Can someone else ride with me?”
[Dave] Matthews, who joined the Farm Aid board in 2001, followed with a short speech that roused attendees and earned the artist a standing ovation; he passionately proclaimed:
“What all the farmers I’ve heard today say is the connection and the responsibility they have to Mother Earth. The enemy of that connection is greed!”
© Brian Bruner / Bruner Photo
It Takes a Village
Throughout the afternoon, the Homegrown Village teemed with people signing petitions urging governments to increase subsidies and hearing first-hand stories from family farmers — illustrating that this annual event is much more than just a music festival. Inside The Homegrown Skills Tent, it was also standing room only. Concertgoers learned how to grow organic mushrooms, to weave, and to make a craft with bees wax. Concessions featured good food from local producers like a pork chop sandwich from Patchwork Family Farms, Apple Cider donuts from Breezy Hill Orchard and a Beef on Weck Sammie from Franklin Square Market.
On the last day of summer, with temperatures feeling more-like mid July, in between the acts lines for cold brews from Stinky’s Coffee and for beer and cocktails from the concession stands grew long. The Merchandise tents also did a brisk and steady business.
Cue The Music
Shortly after 1 p.m., the concert started with The Wisdom Indian Dancers and Margo Price singing the Lord’s Prayer.
Despite half the seats empty, and with short sets, a handful of rising stars and Farm Aid first-timers — Jesse Welles, Cassandra Lewis, Grammy-nominated Memphis soul and blues band Southern Avenue, and Joy Oladokun — all made the most of their opportunity on this star-studded bill.
“Im black & I’m gay and that is why I’m dressed like a mechanic today!” Oladokun said before launching into “I’d Miss the Birds,” one of the poignant songs on her forthcoming third record “Observations from a Crowded Room” that arrives Oct. 18.
© Brian Bruner / Bruner Photo
Charley Crockett, another first-timer, made the most of his mid-afternoon slot. The rising country star played songs from his critically-acclaimed $10 Cowboy released earlier this year. The highlight was a cover of the Waylon Jennings’ anthem: “Are You Sure Hank Done it this Way?”
© Sharon Carone
Crowd pleaser Nathaniel Rateliff — now a Farm Aid regular — was joined by his musical merrymakers The Night Sweats. Wearing a red retro “Stop Factory Farms” t-shirt, the 45-year-old singer-songwriter led his band on a soulful journey that brimmed with passion and had the whole SPAC — even those miles away from the stage with no ticket and no view — dancing to hits like “S.O.B.,” and “I Need Never Get Old.”
© Brian Bruner / Bruner Photo
Lukas Nelson followed Rateliff’s raucous set with a performance just as powerful and pleasing. Backed by The Travelin’ McCourys (brothers Ronnie on mandolin and Rob on banjo, along with fiddler Jason Carter, bassist Alan Bartram and guitarist Cody Kilby ) Nelson performed a mix of his barn-burners like “Sticks and Stones,” and “Carolina.” Del McCoury (Ronnie and Rob’s dad) — and a bluegrass legend — made a surprise appearance for a spirited cover of Willie Nelson’s “Man with the Blues,” all the while sporting a permanent smile as he flat-picked along. Mark Shusterman, keyboardist for Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, took in this special moment from the front row.
© Sharon Carone
Nelson’s country-rock and bluegrass-infused set also included a cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You” that he first performed earlier this summer with Sierra Ferrell at DelFest.
Climb aboard the Love Train
R&B queen Mavis Staples kept this music marathon going into the early evening telling the capacity crowd, “We have come to bring you joy and happiness, along with inspirational & positive vibrations. We want you to feel better when you leave here, so get on board the Love Train!” The 85-year-old, backed by a band of veteran players, wasted no time getting this gospel ride going — singing a string of Staples Singers classics, including: “If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me) “Just Another Soldier” and “Freedom Highway.” “
© Brian Bruner / Bruner Photo
Margo Price, the newest Farm Aid board member, who joined the organization in 2021, kept these positive vibes and connection with the crowd going. The artist ended her set by stepping down from the stage and walking up and down the aisles in the seated section high-fiving fans and handing out roses while her husband and bandmate— Jeremy Ivey — played a long and blistering guitar solo.
© Sharon Carone
As the sun set, shortly after 7 p.m., Dave Matthews — along with longtime collaborator and guitarist Tim Reynolds — served up their usual high octane acoustic-rock as the crowd remained standing. The pair closed their set with “The Weight,” inviting Lukas and Micah Nelson, along with Nathaniel Rateliff, to join in singing this timeless song from The Band.
“This is the kind of situation that gives me hope.” Dave Matthews
Check it Out
© Brian Bruner / Bruner Photo
While Mavis brought the gospel and soul, and Matthews and Reynolds the acoustic jams, John Mellencamp brought the rock and roll. The 72-year-old, who has always worn his American heartland roots on his sleeve and sung about the downtrodden, performed an energetic set that had the audience singing along to every song. Dressed in painting overalls, Mellencamp played to the crowd — serving them their favorites: from “Check it Out,” and “Paper in Fire,” from The Lonesome Jubilee (1987) to “Rain on the Scarecrow” and the foot-stomping closer: “Small Town.”
Mid-set, while the band took a brief break, the rocker shared the following idiom his grandmother (who lived to be 100) bestowed upon him: “Life is short even in its longest days.” Mellencamp followed this anecdote with the beautiful “Longest Days” off Life, Death, Love and Freedom, alone on centre stage, just his voice and his vintage Martin.
A solo acoustic version of the artist’s biggest, most well-known hit “Jack and Diane,” followed. The rocker showed his wry sense of humor when the audience got too caught up in the sing-along. Mellencamp stopped playing after the first verse to offer the crowd a short lesson in songwriting.
“Some songs include two verses, followed by a chorus and you all just said ‘Fuck off to the second verse!” I was only 25 when I wrote this and it took me all afternoon, so I’m going to sing the second verse!”
Still Rockin’ in the Free World
Neil Young made his return to the Farm Aid stage following a one-year hiatus and after the cancellation of the last half of his scheduled summer tour dates with Crazy Horse. A rested Young showed no signs of slowing down; instead, the 79-year-old, sporting a black and red checked flannel shirt overtop his Earth t-shirt, stole the show.
Backed by his newest band: the Chrome Hearts ( organist Spooner Oldham, guitarist Michah Nelson, along with the Promise of the Real’s rhythm section: bassist Corey McCormick and drummer Anthony LoGerfo), Young played just the right mix of acoustic and electric numbers.
Beginning with “From Hank to Hendrix” — and that included “Journey Through the Past” on piano — before finishing with the apropos farmer anthem “Homegrown” and a blistering, jam-filled “Powderfinger” that saw Micah match Neil’s energy on Old Black (Gibson S-G) with some spirited playing on his Telecaster.
© Sharon Carone
The Last Leaf on the Tree
Finally, under the light of the Waning Gibbous moon, as the last day of summer came to an end, Farm Aid founder and American legend Willie Nelson took the stage with his family band that included sons Lukas and Micah, along with Mickey Raphael on harmonica. From the opener “Whisky River,” until the last notes were sung and the final strums on his trusty “Trigger” guitar reverberated throughout the venue, the crowd remained. Both of Willie’s sons took turns on lead vocals during the hour-long coffee house set with Micah singing his “Everything is Bullshit,” and Lukas doing a divine duet with dad on Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe.”
© Brian Bruner / Bruner Photo
This most tender moment occurred during another cover: Tom Waits’ “Last Leaf,” which appears on Willie’s forthcoming 76th studio album Last Leaf on the Tree, out Nov. 1. The poignant opening lyrics resonated with the audience who, many with tears in their eyes, rose for a rowdy and long standing ovation — collectively acknowledging how lucky they were to see this American treasure.
I’m the last leaf on the tree / the autumn took the rest, but he won’t take me/ I’m the last leaf on the tree.
As the clock inched towards 11:30, this music marathon and feel-good fest for a worthy cause ended with most of the artists coming back onto the stage and joining Nelson and his family band for the signature sing-a-long closer: The Carter Family staple “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By).”
Before the song ended, Willie stood, waved to the crowd and ambled off stage while the rest of the performers played on, hugged, smiled and eventually danced their way backstage too.
Leaving the venue with the throng of thousands, I overheard a pair of concertgoers remark: “That is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen!” Agreed. I’m already counting the days until next year when Farm Aid turns 40.
Explore this timeline that looks back at Farm Aid’s concert history and some of its actions through the years to aid the American family farmer.