Willie Nelson was everywhere at the Farm Aid concert on Sunday. I still don’t know how he did it, unless someone finally used science for good and had Willie cloned.
He was at the Press Conference at 11:00 with his fellow board members and other performers for over an hour.
After the press conference, I followed him out of the media tent (you would have done the same thing). There were a lot of people out there, and Willie spent a long time, all the time it took, to hug all the Indian Dancers, and other artists.
I watched Willie walk up to the Blackwood Quartet and thought, “He’s going to be a while here.” The show was scheduled to start and I needed to figure out how my photo pass worked. Then as I am getting escorted down to the photo pit, Willie walks out on stage! I still don’t know how he made it over there so fast.
Willie welcomed everyone to Farm Aid 2009, and sang the Lord’s Prayer with Denise Alley and the Wisdom Indian Dancers. And then he proceeded to introduce artists, and sing with them, throughout the day for the next eleven hours, and then performed with his Family Band.
Throughout the day Willie could be spotted at the side of the stage watching the acts perform.
photo: www.FarmAid.org
At 1:00, Willie welcomed the Blackwood Quartet. Willie joined them for a gospel song, and created a feeling of fellowship that set the tone for the day of music.
Photo by Farm Aid
Next, Willie introduced Matthew Houck and Phosphorescent. Willie told the story of listening to the band’s album, ‘To Willie,’ which is the band’s album of Willie Nelson music. Willie said if he could find someone to hook up his guitar, he would join them for a song, and left the stage for a few minutes. Phosphorescent played several original tunes, then Willie joined them again (without Trigger, though), and sang with them on the Merle Haggard song that Willie helped make famous, “Reason to Quit.”
Pat/Miss Tex from Texas took this picture at Farm Aid 2009.
Willie introduced his son Lukas, and ‘his band The Promise of the Real.
Willie introduces Jamey Johnson.
Willie Nelson and Dave Matthews perform Gravedigger.
Photo: www.FarmAid.org
Willie joins Neil and Pegi Young, on ‘Home Grown’
Then Willie performed a show with the Family Band.
Billy Joe Shaver arrived late, and joined Willie to sing two BillyJoe Shaver songs, ‘Just Because You Asked Me To,’ and “Fast Train to Georgia.”
At the end of the show, he led everyone in a gospel set, the way the show had opened. Then Willie thanked us all for coming.
Thank you, Willie!