 |
| photo: Marc Hauser |
Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and Dave Matthews have been announced as headliners for Farm Aid 2019.
The four Farm Aid board members will be on hand for the September 21 event at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI, where they’ll be joined by a lineup that will include Bonnie Raitt, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, and Tanya Tucker, among others, with more artists to be revealed later this summer.
The organization says the 2019 edition of the annual festival “underscores the severe crisis in farm country” in an economic climate similar to the one that sparked the first Farm Aid concert in 1985.
Median farm income is expected to be -$1,449 in 2019, and while net farm income this year is projected to be 8% higher than prior year levels, it will remain among the bottom 25% of all time. Farmer stress also is growing, with the risk of depression and suicide among people working in agriculture increasing as compared to the general population. Calls to Farm Aid’s farmer hotline have borne this out, with a 109% increase in calls in 2018.
“With devastating weather, low prices and harmful farm and trade policies, America’s family farmers are facing immense challenges to hold on to their farms. It’s not right … family farmers are essential for all of us,” says Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson. “By bringing our festival to the heart of the struggle, we will stand side by side with farmers. At Farm Aid 2019, we’ll highlight solutions and show our support for family farmers’ contributions to our health, economy and environment.”
“We’re bringing Farm Aid to the heartland because we need to show the country what’s happening to the people who grow our food and take care of our soil and water,” adds Mellencamp. “We want family farmers to know that we won’t let them go down without a fight. And neither should you – farmers need us, and we need farmers.”
Beyond the music, Farm Aid will host Homegrown Concessions that showcase family farm-sourced ingredients at all the festival’s food stands.
A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be made available for sale beginning Wednesday, July 10 at 10 a.m. CDT via farmaid.org/festival, with general public tickets going on sale Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m. CDT.
Since the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on the land, the non-profit organization has raised $57 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture.
For full 2019 event details, visit farmaid.org.
See also:
Neil Young to release archival 1973 live album Tuscaloosa
Neil Young to record new album with Crazy Horse
Neil Young plans expanded Ragged Glory reissue
Neil Young announces exclusive solo theater shows
Search Neil Young at hennemusic
