Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson Join Willie Nelson for Farm Aid [Pictures]
Farm Aid is the only place you'll find three current or future rock and country Hall of Famers sitting patiently while a fourth speaks passionately about an important American issue. Then you'll get to see acts like Chris Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, Kacey Musgraves + more open for Willie Nelson and Neil Young.
Try finding a more legit day of country and rock music. Taste of Country photographer Patrick Tewey was on hand to take it in on Saturday (Sept. 22), capturing stunning pictures of each artist onstage. John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews were two rockers who delivered before headliner Young. Nelson closed the show, as he always does. For 33 years Farm Aid has brought attention to the loss of family farms in America — an issue more important than ever, organizers say, with heavier tariffs being placed on American exports in countries like China. The one-day concert (this year at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, Ct.) is a fundraiser for family farms.
Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Particle Kid and Ian Mellencamp also played short sets. Artists mostly stuck to the hits before the 85-year-old Nelson closed the day with "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and "I'll Fly Away" (per Jambase).
The event was not without politics, as each of the festival's mainstays (Young, Mellencamp and Nelson) had an opportunity to talk beforehand. Ultimate Classic Rock reports that the "Jack & Diane" singer called President Donald Trump a "madman" before taking aim at both political parties. Before his set, Nelson would tell Billboard he felt the plight of the American farmer is perhaps worse than it was 33 years ago. He also shared that he's working on a new song called "Vote 'Em Out."
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