Sturgill Simpson Makes Surprise Farm Aid Appearance & Sits In With Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros

Bob Dylan was not the only unannounced performer at Farm Aid on Saturday in Noblesville, Indiana. Sturgill Simpson also made a surprise appearance at the venue formerly known as Deer Creek, sitting in with Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros for their entire three-song set.

Frontman Bob Weir and his Wolf Bros bandmates – bassist Don Was, drummer Jay Lane, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and pedal steel guitarist Barry Sless – along with The Wolfpack strings and horns section, kicked off the set with a brief intro jam that led into the “Truckin’” opener. During the intro, Simpson joined on electric guitar, as did Lukas Nelson, who also sat in for the whole set.

“Truckin’” was extended to allow the musicians onstage to get a feel for one another. The ensemble then segued into “Dark Star,” which drew a comment from Weir regarding the success of the transition. “Dark Star” developed into a spirited jam, with Simpson and Nelson adding layers that intertwined with Chimenti and Sless while Weir and Lane kept the group grounded.

Margo Price was the final guest to join the performance, adding vocals and an impressive tambourine to the “Not Fade Away” closer. Price’s set at Farm Aid saw Simpson sitting in with her band as well.

Simpson and Price will be part of next year’s Dead Ahead destination event in Mexico celebrating the legacy of the Grateful Dead along with Weir, Mickey Hart, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, Don Was, Jay Lane, Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda and others. Watch Sturgill’s surprise sit-in with Bobby via videos posted by Doug Heck below: