Neil Young Makes First Headlining Appearance In Vermont
By Andy Kahn Jul 20, 2015 • 11:35 am PDT
On Sunday night Neil Young & Promise Of The Real’s Rebel Content Tour made a stop at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, Vermont, marking the first headlining concert by the legendary rocker in The Green Mountain State. Young treated the audience to a performance of song that paid tribute to the state, which he last performed in 1998 with Phish and Willie Nelson at Farm Aid.
According to the Burlington Free Press, Young took time during the concert to commend Vermont for its law requiring the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). At a pre-show press conference with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and Young announced the latter’s donation of $100,000 to support the defense of a lawsuit challenging the state’s GMO-labeling law. Young & Promise Of The Real’s recently issued album The Monsanto Years draws attention to the controversy regarding GMOs and labeling laws. During the show Young reportedly addressed the audience, saying “Strong Vermont -standing up while other states are lying down!”
Sunday’s performance also featured Promise Of The Real’s Lukas Nelson playing piano and handling lead vocals on “Moonlight In Vermont,” a song Young last performed live with Phish and Lukas’ father Willie Nelson at The World in Tinley Park, Illinois as part of Farm Aid 1998. Watch pro-shot footage of the Farm Aid “Moonlight Vermont” below:
Big thx to @neilyoung for a 100k donation to the @foodfightfundvt to help ensure #yourrighttoknow pic.twitter.com/INwAn07R3I
— Peter Shumlin (@GovPeterShumlin) July 19, 2015 According to the Burlington Free Press, Young took time during the concert to commend Vermont for its law requiring the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). At a pre-show press conference with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and Young announced the latter’s donation of $100,000 to support the defense of a lawsuit challenging the state’s GMO-labeling law. Young & Promise Of The Real’s recently issued album The Monsanto Years draws attention to the controversy regarding GMOs and labeling laws. During the show Young reportedly addressed the audience, saying “Strong Vermont -standing up while other states are lying down!”
Sunday’s performance also featured Promise Of The Real’s Lukas Nelson playing piano and handling lead vocals on “Moonlight In Vermont,” a song Young last performed live with Phish and Lukas’ father Willie Nelson at The World in Tinley Park, Illinois as part of Farm Aid 1998. Watch pro-shot footage of the Farm Aid “Moonlight Vermont” below:
