farm aid
Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid Reveals Plans for ‘A Major Farmer Mobilization in Washington’ in March 2023
In advance of the annual Farm Aid benefit concert for family farmers in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday (Sept. 24), the organization revealed plans for “a major farmer mobilization in Washington” in March 2023 to advocate for federal support of climate resilient agriculture. The march set for the week of March 6 would be “a mobilization the likes of which we have not seen since the 1970s, tentatively called Farmers for Climate, a rally for resilience,” announced Farm Aid cultural impact director Michael Stewart Foley during a live-streamed press conference that preceded the concert at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek. Farm Aid co-founder and board member John Mellencamp, participating in the press conference, recalled when “[Willie Nelson] and I made the effort” to testify be...
Farm Aid at 35
In July 1985, Bob Dylan stood on stage at Live Aid and suggested a concert just for America’s farmers. Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp ran with the idea, and on Sept. 22, 1985, Farm Aid held its first concert in Champaign, Illinois in front of 80,000 people, featuring performances by its founders, as well as Dylan, Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. The concert raised over $7 million. That’s when Willie knew he needed an executive director to keep the motor running. He chose Carolyn Mugar, a renowned activist for social issues and a driven community leader, and thirty-five-years later, Farm Aid has raised close to $60 million to keep family farmers on their land. Much more than an annual concert, Farm Aid works year-round ...
The 35 Greatest Concerts of the Last 35 Years
We know, we know — the best concert of all-time is your friend’s obscure indie-punk band playing a sweaty neighborhood basement back in ‘94. We admit that one slipped through the cracks. Maybe it’s a fool’s errand, but this list is our attempt to narrow down three and a half decades of worthy live music events — legendary festivals, headlining tours from major artists, one-off stage collaborations, multimedia spectacles — into an eclectic and satisfying blend. – Ryan Reed 35. Heilung at Castlefest (8/5/2017) CREDIT: Gonzales Photo/PYMCA/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Music-related viral clips tend to be silly and easily digestible, like the dude riding a skateboard to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” while sipping on Ocean Spray. So it’s heartening that Heilung’s debut l...
Neil Young, Margo Price, Dave Matthews and More to Play Farm Aid 2020
Willie Nelson, Margo Price, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and more will be ringing in Farm Aid’s 35th anniversary with a special virtual livestream concert to bring awareness to farmers around the U.S. and the continuous struggles they face, especially during the current pandemic. “This pandemic and so many other challenges have revealed how essential family farmers and ranchers are to the future of our planet,” Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson said in a statement. “Farm Aid 2020 is going to give the whole country a chance to learn about the important work of farmers and how they’re contributing to our well-being, beyond bringing us good food.” Matthews, who is a Farm Aid board member, talked about the importance of the farming community, emphasizing that their voices shoul...
