Neil Young Returns To The Stage At Farm Aid 2017

Yesterday the KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania played host to the 32nd edition of Farm Aid. The all-day event, whose mission statement is to “raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on the land,” featured a loaded lineup with sets from the likes of Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and The Avett Brothers, as well as ones from Farm Aid’s Board of Directors Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Willie Nelson.

Yesterday highlight’s included a number of collaborations with Jack Johnson inviting out Sheryl Crow, Nathaniel Rateliff and Jamey Johnson for a version of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” and The Avett Brothers to assist him on “Mudfootball,” from his 2001 release Brushfire Fairytales and “Better Together,” from 2005’s In Between Dreams. Rising country singer Margo Price guested with both Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real on “Find Yourself” and with Sheryl Crow on “Strong Enough.” Crow also offered up a tribute to the late Gregg Allman during her set by inviting out Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Price and Jack Johnson to join her on a jammed out version of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider.”

Dave Matthews used the opportunity to debut a new song during his seven song set with his longtime musical collaborator Tim Reynolds. Unofficially titled “The Odds Are Against Us,” the song could be a precursor to what will eventually appear on the next Dave Matthews Band album, which Matthews recently stated they would soon begin working on. The Dave Matthews Band will also reconvene for the first time in over a year next week for A Concert For Charlottesville.

Arguably one of the most anticipated sets of the night was from Neil Young, who was playing live for the first time since October of last year at his Bridge School Benefit concert. For his abbreviated Farm Aid set Young was backed once again by Promise Of The Real, who channel his days with his longtime backing band Crazy Horse. Young & Co. opened their eight-song set with “F*!#in’ Up,” from 1990’s Ragged Glory. Vintage rockers “Cortez The Killer” and “Cinnamon Girl” followed. Young went to his softer side next for “Human Highway” and “Heart of Gold,” and closed things out with “Like A Hurricane” and “Rockin’ In The Free World.”

Watch over eight hours of performances from yesterday’s Farm Aid concert from Jamey Johnson, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Avett Brothers, Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, John Mellencamp, Neil Young & Promise of the Real (at ~ 06:36:00), Willie Nelson & Family…