– Willie Nelson
SARATOGA SPRINGS – It all started in 1985 when record numbers of farmers found themselves in foreclosure, losing their land and their livelihoods after being encouraged by the U.S. govern- ment to grow large crops for over- sea markets. When the markets did not pan out and crop prices plummeted, thousands of farmers started losing everything they had worked their entire lives for, many losing land that had been in the family for decades. That is when Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young banded together to form the first ever Farm Aid bene- fit concert. Pulled together in only six weeks, the first concert was held in Champagne, Illinois and 78,000 people attended.
Now in its 28th year and the only benefit concert to be continuously running and with the same big-name headliners, Farm Aid brings its biggest fundraiser to Saratoga this weekend at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Headliners Nelson, Mellencamp, Young and Matthews, who joined the Farm Aid organization in 2001, will also be joined by Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Willie’s son, Carlene Carter, daughter of June Carter, Amos Lee and Jack Johnson. A total of 19 artists will perform during the daylong event.
“This year, Farm Aid is going to be amazing,” said Jen Fahy, Farm Aid communications director. “There is always the possibility of surprise guests—Farm Aid has a great history of that happening and the set is going to be breathtaking.”
Farm Aid’s backdrop will feature images of hundreds of local farms and farmers, including the Charles Arnold farm in Greenfield.
“We have hundreds of photos of local farms and farmers,” continued Fahy. “The images are absolutely amazing.”
Each year, Farm Aid board members Nelson, Young, Mellencamp and Matthews head- line a Farm Aid concert bringing together a wide variety of musi- cians, farmers and fans for one mission—keeping family farmers on their land. Farm Aid is the lon- gest running benefit concert series in America, raising more than $43 million to help family farmers thrive all over the country while inspiring millions of people to learn about the Good Food movement.
“The concert is our major fundraiser which supports our internal programs such as the Farmer Resource Network, our support grant program for organizations that support farmers and we can make emergency and disaster grants to farmers, such as what is happening in Colorado right now— we are looking at farmers who may have been affected by the floods,” continued Fahy.
On Friday, there will be a tour of two local farms, including one in Ballston Spa, the Willow Marsh Farm as part of the Farm Aid con- cert, as well as an after concert party at Putnam Den.
For those with smart phones, download the Farm Aid app at Farmaid.org to get the line up, menu from the Homegrown Concessions and list of events and important updates during the concert.
The following is the schedule, which is subject to change.
12:30 p.m. — Blackwood Quartet
12:40 p.m. — Jesse Lenat
12:55 p.m. — Sasha Dobson
1:10 p.m. — Insects vs. Robots
1:30 p.m. — Pegi Young & The Survivors
1:50 p.m. — Bahamas
2:15 p.m. — Carlene Carter
2:45 p.m. — Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
3:15 p.m. — Toad the Wet Sprocket
3:45 p.m. — Amos Lee
4:25 p.m. — Kacey Musgraves
5:05 p.m. — Jamey Johnson
5:50 p.m. — Jack Johnson
6:50 p.m. — Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
7:45 p.m. — John Mellencamp
8:45 p.m. — Neil Young
9:45 p.m. — Willie Nelson
Remember to help Farm Aid’s food drive with Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York by bringing non-perishable food and non-food items that are in boxes, cans or plastic bottles (no glass). Suggested donation items include canned tuna and protein, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, hearty cold weather meals like stew and soup and peanut butter.
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