Farm Aid 2019: A show for everyman
Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI, USA, September 21, 2019
by Mary Andrews
Farm Aid is much like a family reunion and this year the family consisted of 30,000 people. Many of those people have been returning to the event every year for 34 years. The rain showers did not keep Wisconsin away from the sold-out show. The entertainment was amazing.
The board consisting of Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews never dreamed that they would still need to aid family farmers for this long. However, conditions for the farmers have gotten worse instead of better. Farming remains difficult and Farm Aid is committed to continue to support farmers as long as that support is needed.
Nelson created Farm Aid in 1985 amid a foreclosure crisis for American farmers. Farmers were being thrown off their farms. Farm Aid was just was the farmers needed.
Every year multiple artists, as well as the board, donate their time and resources to make Farm Aid the success that it has been. This year’s star-studded lineup of adjunct artists included Tanya Tucker, Bonnie Raitt, Luke Combs, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Margo Price, Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real, Jamey Johnson, Yola, Jamestown Revival, Particle Kid, and Ian Mellencamp.
The fast-moving concert featured sets that ranged from ten minutes starting early in the day to an hour in length later with the big-name artists. The traditional hour-long press conference got the day rolling. Nelson, Mellencamp, Young, Matthews, and local activists and farmers discussed the challenges in the area and in the world to sustain our food system.
Regenerative agriculture are the buzzwords in agriculture now. That nurtures soil health and mitigates climate change.
Nelson was very firm during the press conference that, “These are the folks who feed us and we need to let them know that we need them.”
Matthews reaffirmed, “When we support family farmers, we are supporting people who are taking care of the earth and taking care of the planet. We are not paying them too much for what they do.”
Young added, “The key to our survival as a planet, the way it is now, the planet is not going to go anywhere. It could be really ugly after a while. It will be inhospitable to our life forms unless we do something. I think the solutions are simple and we need to have people representing us that believe in the kind of things we believe in such as sustainability. I think we need to have legislation to make sure that all the farmers in America use sustainable practices. Not practices that destroy the earth. “
The concert:
The Wisdom Indian Dancers got things rolling with dance and a chant that was quickly followed by Margo Price replacing Willie Nelson with her rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer.” Just as fast, Ian Mellencamp did a short acoustic set. The rocker was dressed this year in Western garb and cowboy hat and delivered a more country setting. His songs were about disappearing walls and peace.
Particle Kid aka Micah Nelson quickly followed up with an electric set. Brother, Lukas Nelson, sat in with the band on guitar. The rocking jam included “Everything Is ***.” Austin natives, Zack Chance, and Johnathan Clay, of Jamestown Revival, followed next with their set of upbeat tunes.
Tanya Tucker performed her set early in the day. Tucker is a consummate performer who has been in show business since she was 13 years old. Her fiery set was one of the best of the day and it was far too short. Tucker has recently released a new album, While I’m Livin.,’ It is the first album of original songs she has done in 17 years. She performed “Hard Luck” and “The Wheels of Laredo” from the new album. The biggest fan sing-along was her mega 1972 hit “Delta Dawn.”
Yola was the biggest surprise of the day with a voice that could be considered out of this world. She made a huge splash last week the AmericanaFest in Nashville. The UK songwriter sounds even better live than on her recordings. She did a dazzling cover of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” This artist is going to be impossible to pigeon-hole into one genre. It’s good to see more diversity at Farm Aid.
Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real typically give a powerhouse performance at Farm Aid. This set was no exception. Nelson invited Margo Price, Micah Nelson, Nathaniel Ratliff and the Night Sweats, and Yola out to assist with “Find Yourself.” It was the highlight of the set. Another highlight of the set was their performance of Crosby, Stills, Nash’s “Carry On. “ They delivered on the rich harmonies of the iconic song.
The set had a level of cuteness not reproduced by any other band during the day. Leon, son of percussionist Tato Melgar, came on as the newest member of Promise of the Real. The boy is probably about three feet tall and had a full-size electric guitar strapped on. Leon had all the rock moves down pat, guitar face included, as he strutted across the stage singing and grinning.
Margo Price made many appearances during the day and night of the fest. Her set was adorned with a great cover of Janis Joplin’s “Move Over” and a new song “Long Live the King.” The new song seems to be a tribute to Martin Luther King and John Lennon. Both were victims of tragic deaths. It was clear that Farm Aid is her favorite gig of the year.
Jamey Johnson is another regular performer at Farm Aid every year. Johnson always seems to have a special guest. This year Randy Houser filled that spot. Johnson and Houser did dueling vocals on “Lead Me Home” and “Evangeline.” Johnson gave searing vocals on “This Land is Your Land” and “In Color.” Fans rewarded him with many standing ovations.
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats gave their best soul-soaring set that has become a tradition at Farm Aid. Their set got the crowd up and dancing from the ‘getgo’ with their mega-hit, “S.O.B.” Rateliff knows how to wrap a crowd around his fingers as he shuffles across the stage and sings. The entire band knows how to take you to ‘church.’
Luke Combs is a newcomer to Farm Aid. Combs is on a roll with the top-selling country album of 2019, This One’s For You. The man is highly relatable to everyone as he performs songs like “When It Rains, It Pours” and “Beautiful Crazy.” Combs can tell a story with best songwriters.
Bonnie Raitt brought her signature song “Angel From Montgomery” along with her cover of Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” to her set. She reminisced about the tragedy of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s death in a helicopter crash that occurred not far from the festival site. She dedicated Skip James’ “Devil Got My Woman” to Vaughan. Raitt’s slide guitar chops are still exemplary and a treat to experience.
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds’ acoustic set was sublime. Reynolds’ finesse with his guitar is unparalleled. It is mesmerizing to watch. Matthews’ vocals are as strong and hypnotic as ever.
John Mellencamp and his full band gave the fans everything they expected. His vocals were scorching. Miriam Sturm’s violin and Andy York’s guitar share the front of the stage and they are as dynamic as their leader. Mellencamp stopped the fans’ chorus once again to tell them they messed up on the lyrics of “Jack and Diane.’ He seems to enjoy the crowd performance regardless. The chorus of 30,000 people was breathtaking.
One never knows what Neil Young and the Promise of the Real will perform at Farm Aid. The set is different every fest and it is always great. This was a more laid-back set for Young. He sat down at the piano for the first song, “Are You Ready for the Country?” That seemed to be a surprise to everyone. He donned his guitar next for “Workin’ Man.” Young enjoyed the fans’ singing on “Homegrown.” Other gems of the night included “Harvest Moon” and “Heart of Gold.” “Rockin’ in the Free World” was the most upbeat song of the set.
The night ended with Willie Nelson and Family. Nelson dished out old favorite tunes like “Whiskey River,” “Goodhearted Woman,” “Still Is Still Moving,” and “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys.” Nelson & his family closed out the evening with a “Will The Circle Be Unbroken/I Saw The Light/I’ll Fly Away” medley featuring Young, Rateliff, Price, and Lukas Nelson. Price had her newborn baby with her during the finale. That was the second most ‘cuteness’ of the day.
For more information on Farm Aid and to make a donation, please click
You must be logged in to post a comment.