What Happened at Willie Nelson’s 2024 Farm Aid

Lauren Novak September 23, 2:09 pm

US musician Willie Nelson performs onstage during the Farm Aid Music Festival at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana on September 24, 2023 — SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images

Willie Nelson has been hosting Farm Aid for almost 40 years. Now considered the longest-running concert for a cause, the event this year was headlined by Nelson in Saratoga Springs, New York, along with Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson with the Travelin’ McCourys, Charley Crockett, Joy Oladokun, Southern Avenue, Cassandra Lewis, Jesse Welles and others.

Since its inception, Farm Aid has raised over $80 million to support farmers as well as help battle climate change and social injustice. For those supporting the cause, it is imperative to show up early. The day before the big concert event, Farm Aid hosted “Farmer Forum, a Rural Call to Action,” which brought together hundreds of farmer advocates to protect small farmers from being put out of business by corporate agriculture.

Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Dave Matthews and Margo Price on stage during Farm Aid 2024 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on September 21, 2024 in Saratoga Springs, New York

Gary Miller/Getty Images

The next day, when the concerts began, two Indigenous acts came out to perform as they have done every year since 1990. Kontiwennenhá:W, from the Akwesasne community of northern New York, and the Wisdom Indian Dancers got the crowd going before the rest of the acts performed their beautiful tunes. In addition, each year Farm Aid hopes to showcase rising singers and give them a popularity boost. This year, Jesse Welles, Joy Oladokun and Cassandra Lewis were the newbies.

Micah Nelson, Merlyn Kelly, Neil Young and Tato Melgar perform in concert during Farm Aid 2024 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on September 21, 2024 in Saratoga Springs, New York

Gary Miller/Getty Images

While it seems all of the country music stars got the crowd going, of course, everyone was waiting for the big headliners of Nelson, Young, Mellencamp and Matthews. Matthews brought out Nelson’s sons, Lukas and Micah, and Nathaniel Rateliff for a cover of “The Weight.” Mellencamp made sure to sing the heartbreaking tune “Rain on the Scarecrow,” about the 1980s farm foreclosure crisis that led to the idea of Farm Aid.

Young performed several acoustic songs before he brought out the electric guitar and shared a rousing electric guitar solo. Finally, Nelson came out with his sons and performed some of his hit songs including “On the Road Again” and “Always on My Mind.” He also surprised fans with a new song from his upcoming album. He performed a cover of “Last Leaf” written by Tom Waits and had the crowd in tears. Both Young and Nelson seemed to be in good spirits despite having some health issues earlier this year. While Young performed at this event, he has since canceled other tour dates.

If you attended Farm Aid, this year or in the past, share with us your favorite memories!