Minnesota had to wait 40 years to host a Farm Aid concert, but in the end, they received an exceptional event.
It also had a very Minnesotan one.
A notable combination of local talent was featured in the lineup for Saturday’s 12-hour event at Huntington Bank Stadium. Homeboy Bob Dylan — who initially motivated Farm Aid by mentioning American farmers during the 1985 Live Aid concert — gave a brief yet impactful performance with just three days’ warning. Meanwhile, the Duluth-based band Trampled by Turtles received a positive response earlier in the day.
Minnesota officials had a significant presence. Sen. Amy Klobuchar introduced Farm Aid’s youngest musician board member, Margo Price, with a relevant and well-received reference to her recent appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Later, Gov. Tim Walz welcomed the day’s elder statesman, Willie Nelson, to the stage by commending him for being “a man who truly represents the American spirit.”
“Strongly independent, giving, kind, unconventional, honorable, and somewhat of a troublemaker,” Walz described the 92-year-old Texas native, who has served as Farm Aid’s active organizer since it began.
Many other aspects of the concert reflected the Minnesota spirit. The weather was comfortably autumnal, with only occasional rain and no excessive sweating, unlike the intense heat experienced at Nelson’s Fourth of July picnics in Texas. The stage setup was effective and well-organized.
The spirit of Minnesota nice was evident throughout the event. Perhaps due to it being a charity concert for a cause that wasn’t politically charged, those on stage and in the audience were as friendly and united as at any major concert in recent times.
Even one of the event’s top attractions — known for a fanbase that enjoys laid-back, hippie-style music — was taken aback by the positive energy from the 37,000 people in attendance.
“Don’t trust them when they say we’re not all in this together,” Dave Matthews remarked from the stage.
Here are some of our own insights following the 12-hour music experience and additional content from Saturday.
You wouldn’t have seen them on the CNN broadcast (which began after they performed), but Madeline Edwards and Eric Burton each stood out not just because they were the day’s only two Black singers. Torchy twanger Edwards was a genuine unknown but demonstrated strong vocal and lyrical abilities. Less recognized as a solo artist, Burton emerged from his Texas soul-rock group Black Pumas to beautifully showcase his more raw, heartfelt street-busker background.
Alternatively, any Farm Aid participants who hadn’t yet encountered the rising stars Billy Strings, Sierra Ferrell, or Waxahatchee probably left the event satisfied with the well-chosen short performances they delivered.
While most of the day’s performers remained in their typical style, Neil Young, Farm Aid’s Canadian-American co-founder, utilized the concert to highlight his new band, the Chrome Hearts. We were fortunate. Featuring the renowned Muscle Shoals session musician Spooner Oldham on organ and Willie’s son, Micah Nelson, on guitar, the four-member group captured both the powerful sound of Young’s former band Crazy Horse and some of the atmospheric sophistication from his 1989 album “Freedom.” Both elements were essential given the selection of songs.
Okay, so not every performer embraced the Minnesota Nice approach. Young was extremely harsh during the show’s penultimate set, beginning with his new anti-Trump song “Big Crime” and maintaining the political intensity through “Rockin’ in the Free World,” “Be the Rain,” and “Southern Man.”
Arkansas folk singer Jesse Welles filled his entire early-afternoon performance with songs that reflected the current times, including “Cancer” and “Philanthropist,” the latter of which he dedicated to Bill Gates; and no, it wasn’t a compliment.
Alternative-country hero Price also began her performance with the song “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down,” which symbolically marked the final song played on Kimmel’s late-night television show before it ended Wednesday.
That wasn’t too challenging this time, was it? Four Bob Dylan hits — “All Along the Watchtower,” “To Ramona,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and “Highway 61 Revisited” — were simple to identify due to their clearly spoken lyrics, even though the melodies were unfamiliar and typically energetic. The real challenge was spotting Dylan, who had a black hoodie over his head while sitting at a piano in lighting so poor it was hard to read a book.
We paid close attention all night to the words and songs coming from the stage. However, the most impactful comment at Farm Aid occurred well before the music began. Even before the audience arrived at the Gopher football stadium. During a large press conference with approximately 1,000 media representatives, farmers, and selected advocates, Farm Aid co-founder Young—naturally, the one who speaks openly—introduced a new slogan suggesting that corporations should pay a “conscience tax” to family farmers. A short time later, another board member, Matthews, adopted the phrase in his impromptu comments during the press event. Young stated that Minnesota-based Cargill and other companies “need to pay a conscience tax to the farmers of America.” We can expect to see a “conscience tax” T-shirt in the near future.
Were the people in charge of the Gophers football games simply unaccustomed to large crowds attending events? The stadium appeared to have insufficient staff at the food stands, which had unusually long lines, and was also poorly equipped with restrooms and portable toilets, leading to many unhappy faces due to the unpleasant smells.
In defense of the stadium, Farm Aid’s organizers appeared to be surprised by the large number of people at the merchandise stands, where many T-shirts, hats, and posters were sold out by mid-afternoon. (Those items can still be purchased to support the cause at the)farmaid.com online store).
Two prominent figures enhanced the country appeal of the Farm Aid performers. Wynonna Judd, often associated with 80s and 90s Nashville, delivered a powerful performance with her strong vocals and R&B flair. Kenny Chesney, the reigning king of stadium concerts, is known for his energetic stage presence, but a half-hour set seemed insufficient for him to fully settle into his groove. He appeared hurried and wasn’t at his vocal best.
With 18 or more acts on the lineup, it’s unrealistic to anticipate consistently impressive outcomes. However, the Farm Aid performers demonstrated steady dedication and talent, except for the aforementioned Chesney, who attempted to turn his brief performance into a celebrity moment, blowing kisses and everything.
Jam bands are well-known for extending their performances in live shows, featuring lengthy solo sections that aim to take audiences to different places. Established jam-band artists Strings, a rising bluegrass talent, and Matthews (alongside Tim Reynolds) demonstrated that they can engage an audience without needing three hours. Each of them accomplished this in a captivating half-hour, showcasing intense playing and strong musical synergy, with Matthews and Reynolds joined by energetic fiddler Jake Simpson from Lukas Nelson’s group.
A wide variety to select from here. Price, Strings, and Welles created a fiery combination in Price’s performance of Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm.” Ferrell’s surprise four-song set as part of Lukas Nelson’s show felt almost as unified and in sync as his father and late aunt, Willie and Bobbie Nelson, used to be when they played together, especially in their version of Young’s “Unknown Legend.” And let’s not forget Lukas’ duet with his 92-year-old father toward the end of the show as they sang the Pearl Jam song “Just Breathe,” a track about immortality. Yeah, uff da.
The 12-hour performance was like a long endurance event, yet by the end, the 37,000 spectators — or however many remained — appeared to wish Willie would stay just a bit more. He is a widely admired national icon, a dedicated advocate for the greater good, a kind-hearted individual with great music, positive intentions, and, as we’re told, excellent cannabis. As he sang, “I’ll be here for eternity” during the moving “Last Leaf on the Tree,” the audience responded with loud cheers.
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