The 31st Annual Farm Aid show took place at the Jiffy Lube Pavilion in Bristow, Virginia. Besides Tinley Park, Illinois, Bristow has hosted the event the second most often, at three times in all (first since 1990). The sold out crowd of around 20,000 patrons were there to take in the sights and sounds of not only the great music but what the latest is in Homegrown Organic foods.
The event is to showcase farmers from far and wide. As always, the show starts off with a one hour press conference attended by all the artists (minus Alabama Shakes as they weren’t at the venue yet). Along with the moderators, each headlining artist (Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews) chimed in to give a take on a particular issue. Local farmers talked about what obstacles they faced and the hurdles they need to climb in order to make growing organically happen for them.
The show started off with YouTube sensation Star Swain singing the national anthem. Next, Willie Nelson came on stage as a transition to say the prayer for the day as the Wisdom Indian Dancers accompanied him. The next 11 hours provided 13 different artists for fans and farmers to enjoy. Always, one of my favorite artists is Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real. Lukas and his brother Michah Nelson from Inspect vs. Robots were very busy, playing with their father and with Neil Young. More on Young’s set in a little bit.
Margo Price just released her debut record “Farmers Daughter” in March and played an inspired 25 minute set. Willie Nelson’s harmonica player Mickey Raphael joined her for her set. She played the track “Hard in America” for the first time ever and dedicated it to her grandparents. She’s an up an coming artist to look for.
The special guest for Jamey Johnson’s set was none other than 27 Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss. Johnson made his ninth straight Farm Aid appearance. Krauss’ vocals blended in perfectly for his set as she sang A cappella and also incorporated her violin into the mix. Johnson and Krauss (who has an angelic voice) complemented each other on tracks like “Living on Tulsa Time” and “Ghost in the House.” Johnson also paid homage to Merle Haggard and played “I’ll Think I will Just Stay Here and Drink.” The highlight of their set was the take on the Pete Seeger classic “This Land is Your Land.” Ironically, Seeger’s last public performance was singing this same song with the board in 2013.
The band that I was more than eager to see, you could say, was Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. He combines folk rock, Americana and blues, making his set very upbeat. It’s music that you can move and dance to. Of course, the song getting all the play is “S.O.B.” and it didn’t disappoint. It was a great set and I’m looking forward to seeing a full set, hopefully, sooner than later.
This was the first time I saw Alabama Shakes as well. Lead vocalist/rhythm guitar player Brittany Howard performs with urgency and passion. With most of the crowd being country music fans, she easily won them over with her band’s performance. Songs performed included “Always Right” and the radio hit “Don’t Want to Fight.” Howard was sympathetic to the cause of the day and was taken aback that her band was asked to play the show.
Out of all the fans who come to Farm Aid, you can say that Dave Matthews and his partner in crime Tim Reynolds draw in more that any other performers. Their set went a little past their 45 minute time limit as they played for nearly an hour, setting the schedule off for the other three headliners. Reynolds is one of the finest acoustic guitar players on the planet and when he and Matthews get together, they create pure magic. I’m sure the crowd didn’t mind any of the extra time they got with the dynamic duo.
John Mellencamp and his group were all dressed in matching black suits and played a short set that consisted of hit after hit. Highlights were “Paper and Fire” and the appropriate “Rain on the Scarecrow.” The former started off with a dark accordion and violin intro, giving the song even more meaning.
Outspoken Neil Young came on next and brought out the Promise of the Real (including Micah Nelson) to perform with him. Young’s set is always unpredictable and he continued that trend at this year’s Farm Aid. He started off with his traditional harmonica strapped to his neck along with black cowboy hat hiding his face some. The band opened up with “Heart of Gold.” Young stuck with more hits on this set as he also did “Harvest Moon.” Young ditched the harmonica, traded his black cowboy hat for a baseball hat and most importantly, traded an acoustic guitar for an electrical one. Young showed he can still bring out the heavy wood as he laid everything he had into some of those riffs of “Rockin’ in the Free World.” The song was extended several times and the crowd loved it. Talking with Young enthusiasts, it was one of the highlights and most inspiring songs that they ever saw Young do at Farm Aid. We included the video of the track below. I should also mention that Willie Nelson came out to join young and The Promise of the Real on the track “Are There Any More Real Cowboys?” The set of sets for sure. Young killed it and sent a message home to everyone that he will fight until the end and hopes the farmers will do the same.
In what’s become a Farm Aid tradition, Willie Nelson and Family closed out the day’s performances. Unfortunately due to timing, Nelson’s set was cut short as he went on at 10:15pm and only played until 11pm. He still was able to crank out 15 songs, including some of his most well known tracks in “On the Road Again,” “It’s All Going to Pot” and “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” Everyone came onto the stage to join Nelson to sing “I’ll Fly Away,” “Amazing Grace” and “I Saw the Light,” including Dave Mathews, Allison Krauss, Jamey Johnson, Star Swain (who handled most of the vocals on “Amazing race”), Margo Price and Neil Young.
This is the third time in the last four years that I have personally attended Farm Aid. To me, it’s always the most important show of the year and if we can bring awareness of the American farmer, we will do what we can for that cause. Another great year of music!
Willie Nelson setlist:
Whiskey River/Still is Still Moving to Me
Beer for my Horses
Good Hearted Woman
Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys
Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
On the Road Again
Always on my Mind (Brenda Lee cover)
Bloody Mary Morning
Jambalaya (on the Bayou) (Hank Williams cover)
Georgia on my Mind (Hoagy Carmichel cover)
It’s All Going to Pot (Willie Nelson & Merle haggard cover)
Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die
I’ll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley cover)
Amazing Grace (John Newton cover)
I Saw the Light (Hank Williams cover)
Neil Young & Promise of the Real setlist:
Heart of Gold (Neil Young song)
Out of the Weekend (Neil Young song)
Human Highway (Neil Young song)
Harvest Moon (Neil Young song)
Are There Any More Real Cowboys? (Neil Young song)
Powderfinger (Neil Young song & Crazy Horse cover)
Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young cover)
John Mellencamp setlist:
Lawless Times
Small Town
Stones in my Passway (Robert Johnson cover)
Check it Out
Rain on the Scarecrow
Paper in the Fire
Crumblin’ Down
Authority Song
Pink Houses
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds setlist:
Don’t Drink the Water (Dave Mathews Band cover)
Grey Street (Dave Mathews Band cover)
Crash Into Me (Dave Mathews Band cover)
Samurai Cop (Dave Mathews Band cover)
Crush (Dave Mathews Band cover)
Bismarck (Dave Mathews Band cover)
Two Step (Dave Mathews Band cover)
Ants Marching (Dave Mathews Band cover)
We would like to thank Faith James from Farm Aid PR for the credentials to cover this amazing show. For more information on Farm Aid, please go to: Farm Aid. Here is the video of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
