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by: Thom Duffy
“We’ve all seen the pain brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but our family farmers endured,” Willie Nelson said.
This was a Farm Aid like none other.
More than three decades after Willie Nelson launched music’s longest-running concert for a cause, to support the family farmers who feed the nation, and one year after the pandemic forced a livestreaming of the event, Farm Aid returned in person Saturday (Sept. 25) at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, Conn.
Here are 14 things that changed — or didn’t — at Farm Aid 2021.
Neil Young bowed out
Citing his concerns with “the COVID pandemic surging,” Neil Young announced Aug. 18 that he would not join his fellow Farm Aid board members — Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price — at this year’s show, after playing every Farm Aid since it launched in 1985. “I don’t want to let anybody down, but still can’t shake the feeling that it might not be safe for everyone,” Young said in a statement. “While I respect Willie, John and Dave’s decisions to stick with it and play, I am not of the same mind. It is a tough call.” He added: “We will be back. There is much work to do together.”
Proof of vaccination or COVID tests were required
Farm Aid in mid-August announced that festival-goers would be required to show either proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test result taken within 48 hours of the show. (With the option of a rapid test performed on site for $39.99). With concertgoers lining up as early in the day for the 1 p.m. festival start, admission to the amphitheater went smoothly, with its 24,000 capacity reduced by Farm Aid to 18,000 to increase social distancing on the lawn.
Instead of a press briefing, artists gathered to talk
Concerns with COVID led to the cancellation of Farm Aid’s annual morning press conference onstage. But artists instead took part in small offstage panel discussions in Farm Aid’s Homegrown Village. Price recalled when she was a member of Future Farmers of America as a youngster and joined a talk on the future of farming. Allison Russell participated in a session on the past and future of Black farmers. Denver-based Nathaniel Rateliff commented on the fires and drought sweeping the West during a discussion of how family farmers can help fight climate change. Acknowledging Young’s absence, Rateliff echoed that singer’s frequent advice: “If you see a farmer’s market or stand, just stop. Buy something. Make a connection.”
Sturgill Simpson called in sick
In a second setback to Farm Aid’s lineup, Sturgill Simpson announced via Instagram Sept. 22 that he was forced to cancel tour dates, including Farm Aid, due to viral laryngitis “or inhaling treated wood from backstage campfire at Merlefest or something equally stupid. Missing shows. Feel awful. Very sorry Farm Aid.”
But an agricultural superstar showed up
One of the important parts of Farm Aid takes place the day before the music starts, when activists meet to dig deep into the challenges facing family farmers. This year’s town hall gathering went virtual to tackle topics including the corporate concentration and consolidation of the nation’s farms, debt relief for farmers, racial equity and climate change. Participants on the Zoom call included U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack — the highest ranking agriculture official in the nation. In January, Farm Aid published an open letter to the new Biden/Harris administration titled: “Our Vision For Fixing The Farm and Food System.” Jennifer Fahy, communications director of Farm Aid, said the day after the Zoom session that she believed farmers could look forward to “communication and transparency — coming from the very top.”
You can still follow the money
This has never changed. Since the first Farm Aid in 1985, the organization has raised some $60 million to support family farmers and the creation of a sustainable system of agriculture. The organization has earned an “A” rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy’s charitywatch.org. Its annual reports offer a transparent look at how the money raised each year by the festival benefits family farmers. And Willie signs the checks.
The festival honored the first farmers
In recent years, the Black Lives Matter movement also has raised awareness of the discrimination experienced by America’s indigenous peoples. But Farm Aid, for more than a decade, has opened each festival with indigenous performers, recognizing the nation’s first farmers. On Saturday, Rachel Sayet of Connecticut’s Mohegan nation welcomed the crowd on behalf of all the indigenous tribes “that still occupy this land,” offering a blessing and introducing the Wisdom Indian Dancers.
Farm Aid is fed by its First Family
While many Farm Aid fans always come to hear Nelson (whose sister, Bobbie, is his longtime piano player), the singer’s two sons had a commanding presence onstage. Hair dyed pink, Micah Nelson drove the decibel level high early in the day with his band Particle Kid and tracks like “Everything is Bulls—.” Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real have ferociously backed Neil Young at Farm Aid in recent years. Their set on Saturday was one of the highlights of the day with songs like “(Forever Is A) Four Letter Word,” which smartly echoed Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm.”
The musical future takes root here
After 36 years, Farm Aid continues to showcase new talent. On Saturday, the crowd cheered the soulful songs of Allison Russell, whose Joe Henry-produced album, Outside Child, arrived in May. And Tyler Childers proved himself a mighty protege of Simpson, who co-produced his latest release, Country Squire, and closed his set covering Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through The Night.”