[UPDATE 8/19/21]: Neil Young posted on his Archives news page on Wednesday to inform fans that he will not be taking part in this year’s Farm Aid benefit show, currently scheduled for September 25th in Hartford, CT.
Young, who serves on the Farm Aid Board of Directors alongside Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews, explained that the current surge in cases was responsible for his change of heart.
“Lots is going on in our world right now,” he noted. “I find myself wondering whether Farm Aid will be safe for everyone with the Covid pandemic surging. I worry about that. I don’t want to let anybody down, but still can’t shake the feeling that it might not be safe for everyone.”
“All you people who can’t go to a concert because you still don’t feel safe, I stand with you,” he added. “I don’t want you to see me playing and think it’s safe now. I don’t want to play until you feel safe, and it is indeed, safe. My soul tells me it would be wrong to risk having anyone die because they wanted to hear music and be with friends…no matter where you are, I am with you. Do what you must, but think it through. We will be back. There is much work to do together.”
The performance was set to be Young’s first live show since the 2019 edition of Farm Aid, though he has stayed busy throughout the pandemic with his Fireside Sessions home livestreams.
Check out the full, updated lineup for Farm Aid 2021 below. For tickets and more information, head here.
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[7/20/21] Organizers of Farm Aid have announced the lineup for the 2021 festival, set to take place at Hartford, CT’s Xfinity Theatre on September 25th. This year’s edition of the agriculturally-minded music festival will feature headlining performances by Farm Aid Board of Directors members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds.
Also on tap for the return of Farm Aid are Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, newly-minted board member Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Bettye Lavette, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Allison Russell, Particle Kid, and Ian Mellencamp. This will mark the physical return of Farm Aid after the festival was forced to go digital in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Related: Willie Nelson Writes A Letter To Cannabis In ‘Letters To America’ Excerpt [Watch]
Pre-sale tickets for Farm Aid 2021 begin on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET with a general on-sale starting Friday at 10 a.m. ET. Visit the event’s website for more information. In regards to COVID precautions, organizers wrote,
Farm Aid 2021 will be an outdoor, open air event and the safety of our fans, artists, staff, vendors, supporters, and farmers is our top priority.
We are working closely with venue staff, State and other public health officials to ensure that Farm Aid 2021 adheres to the most up-to-date safety guidelines. The conditions of the pandemic are evolving daily and they are trending in a positive direction, however, we are more than three months away from the event.
We will communicate and publish detailed protocols on our website as the event date approaches so you know exactly what to expect.
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