Diversity
That is the message Farm Aid is sending. Diversity both in farming practices and food diversity is dependent on diversity among the farmers themselves. Board members, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and Margo Price all communicated factual accounts regarding factory farming, the difficulties small family farms face, and even relating how musicians and farmers share similarities in challenges with the arch of their careers. Farm Aid Board President, Willie Nelson welcomed farmers, exhibitionists, press, and other guests opening the 39th Farm Aid set at the scenic Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Matthews stated, “farming the earth and that connection, is a radical political act.”
Farm Aid 2024 transformed SPAC completely! The one-day festival is its own production separate from Live Nation. All staff wore different shirts than usual; white “homegrown” tees in concessions and black “farm aid” tees for what are otherwise Live Nation staff. Farm Aid production changed all the signage and the menu was diversified. There was one or two typical SPAC concessions, but mostly, it was organic, farm-to-table meals, including vegan choices. The variety of healthier food options was received well. The vibe was all about community, farming education, a farmers’ market, solidified with a spectacular lineup of musicians coming together to support the mission of Farm Aid. Their mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Decorations of hay bales, pumpkins and gourds was a lovely detail.
Included with your ticket to Farm Aid is the Homegrown Village, set farther back on the SPAC property. Within the village are many interactive booths, each of which was either educational or some kind of nonprofit organization centered around science, ecology, and farming. Homegrown Village was a combination farmers market meets fair exhibits. WEXT Radio briefly spoke with Organic Valley farmer, Dave Hardy. You can listen below:
Music! The artists creating art on that Farm Aid stage is the thread that tied everything together. The sense of community was palpable but the undercurrent vibe resulted in a crowd which was chill, kind, and fun.
WEXT Radio briefly spoke to Cassandra Lewis, an artist showcased earlier in the day.
Memphis band, Southern Avenue is making a splash on the scene with their high energy set, leaving no doubts, they are well on their way up the proverbial ladder. All rock n roll and fun, we loved chatting with them.
Nathaniel Rateliff lays it all out there. He was soulful and visibly enjoying and feeling his own music so much, it was contagious. I loved watching the synergy between him and the crowd. The joy was infectious.
Charley Crockett’s set was just ahead of Rateliff’s but, he too is another feeler! He dug right in and brought us right into the modernized western part of country music. He carried us to the core of American culture somehow through his lyrics.
Lukas Nelson with The Travelin’ McCourys was magical. For one, it has only happened on a few occasions and, two because they are the adult children two of the most legendary and well-regarded musicians in the business. The Travelin’ McCoury’s, on their own (or with Del) are traditional bluegrass, and Lukas with his former band, Promise of the Real is rock n roll, the sound was going to be different. Lukas’ voice sounds the same no matter who he’s with and he also sounds exactly like his dad. The grown children of two living legends, just combined forces being quite amazing to witness. The good kind of chills rippled throughout just knowing their dad’s legacy will be preserved and passed down through familial generations, which must be so special for their dad’s. Del McCoury must have been so proud, he sat in on the final two songs with this new combination. He was the surprise guest.
As they day grew later, music crooned in the distance for dinner breaks but fortunately, SPAC is set up so that you can listen even if you are walking around. Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds was well received, but even more special was when they brought Lukas and Micah Nelson out with Nathanial Rateliff for The Bands, “The Weight.” John Mellencamp was up. We all know quite a few of those pop tunes! He was exactly what you would expect. Neil Young knocked it out of the park also playing many of his well-known crowd favorites. Micah Nelson and two members of Promise of the Real, Corey McCormick and Anthony LoGerfo backed Neil Young. Willie Nelson played longer than expected also playing crowd favorites like, “On the Road Again.” He seemingly was having a great time on that stage, because he played beyond his expected end time! Of course, for the encore, all the bands came to the stage for “I’ll Fly Away” he wanted to keep playing so he did (we missed the last song).
Overall, this lineup was stacked with the cream of the crop artists. Farm Aid is also extraordinarily well produced, well executed, well developed and well designed. Truly, Farm Aid converted a Live Nation venue into something a little different for a change. A vibe we all welcomed. In the words of John Mellencamp, “if you want a better world, it starts with you.”
