2021 Farm Aid

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2021 Farm Aid: Thirty-six years of helping the family farmer with spectacular concerts

Xfinity Amphitheatre, Hartford, CT, September 25, 2021

By Mary Andrews

Saturday, September 25, 2021 marked the 36^st Farm Aid concert event presented by Willie Nelson and company to aid the plight of the American family farmer. It was a great day, all day!

Officially the Farm Aid board consists of Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews and they are always there to save American farmland. Margo Price and Annie Nelson were added to the board this year. Dave Matthews remarked regarding the addition of Price during the concert that he was no longer the youngest member of the board and “She’s a lot better looking than me.”

Approximately 30,000 fans attended the event.

Farm Aid is the major annual fundraiser for the organization that started in 1985 during a farm crisis. Some $60 million dollars has been raised to support family farming by Farm Aid. The event features over 10 hours of live music as well as a farmers’ market and the Homegrown Village where local farmers demonstrate how food is grown. Eating local is one of the major messages sent to the attendees.

All of the performers donate their performances and travel expenses to promote the charity. This year, Neil Young bowed out of the festivities early after Farm Aid announced that it would be live this year. Young was concerned that the live show would be a ‘super spreader’ event for Covid-19. Sturgill Simpson called “in sick” two days prior to the event due to laryngitis. Regardless, the concert was, as usual, a phenomenal day of music and fun.

There has always been a press conference prior to the music with the board of directors. The board members usually give an immense amount of information on issues pertaining to family farmers across the country.

The press conference was cancelled due the pandemic. There was ample opportunity during the day to visit the Homegrown Village to get the information usually covered at the press conference. Most of the performers took time during their sets to remind the fans of the purpose of the concert and the issues presently at hand for family farmers.

Farm Aid announced in mid-August that festival-goers would be required to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid-19 test result within 48 hours of the show.

The concert started with the Wisdom Indian Dancers dressing in full Native American costume. In past years, Willie would take the stage during their set to sing “The Lord’s Prayer.” However, Price did the honors instead.

The early sets by Ian Mellencamp and Particle Kid (Micah Nelson) were 15 minutes in length. Starting with Allison Russell, the length of the sets gradually increased.

The multi-instrumentalist, Russell, released a new CD this year, Outside Child. She performed several self-penned songs from the CD commemorating personal strength and affirmation.

Jamey Johnson took the stage to perform an acoustic set of some of his hit songs. Johnson has remained a permanent performer at Farm Aid for more than 10 years. The solo set was stunning as usual.

Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real delivered a top-notch set of eight songs. “Four Letter Word” and “Carolina” were highlights of their high-octane performance.

Bettye LaVette hit all the right notes with her R&B vocals. LaVette’s music goes back to 1962 with hits songs on Atlantic Records. She delivered exemplary renditions of Ringo Starr’s “It Ain’t Easy” and Lucinda Williams’ “Joy.” She opened with an energetic “Things Have Changed” and kept up the pace throughout the set.

Nathaniel Rateliff (credit: Mary Andrews)

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats filled their lively set with their hits as well as a killer version of The Band’s “The Shape I’m In” with Lukas Nelson. The set was filled with foot-stomping, hand-clapping, and tambourine-shaking energy.

Tyler Childers and his band sang with an intensity that held the crowd’s absolute attention. Childers’ set consisted songs from his new album, Outside Child. He ended the set with a riveted version of Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”

Margo Price’s set was more pop than her country-doused music of previous performances. Her confidence level seemed to be boosted as she performed “Light Me Up” and Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me.” She tossed roses into the crowd as she left the stage at the end of her set.

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds’ set seemed too short as they jammed to “Warehouse,” “Bartender,” and “Ants Marching.” Matthews spoke about the mission of helping family farmers as well as poking fun at the fact that he had to have a technician plug his guitar in for him. Reynolds demonstrated that he is a guitar master as he pulled amazing sounds from his guitar.

Mellencamp’s set could easily be the best of the day. He took the stage with a cigarette in hand and was determined to finish it while talking and performing. He had only three band members this time, but when he started singing, it seemed as his entire band was present.

He performed “Jack and Diane” even though it’s not his favorite song. The audience sang along but did not come in at the right time. He joked and asked how they came in early since they have been singing the song for 40 years. At one point in the set, he declared, ‘You don’t know me. You may think you know me.” This was his introduction to his new song “I Always Lie to Strangers.” Mellencamp dished out a stellar performance.

Willie Nelson’s set was at the end of the evening. Even though Nelson was sitting for most of the set, it was a fast-paced, 17 song performance. Willie’s sons, Lukas and Micah, sat on each side of their father as they sang harmony and played guitar. Micah sang lead on a new song that he wrote with his father “If I Die When I’m High I’ll be Halfway to Heaven.” They performed all of Nelson’s best-known songs. Many of the day’s artists joined Nelson for the traditional last two songs of the set, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and “I’ll Fly Away.”