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Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews among the performers

July 11, 2019

3 Min Read
Willie Nelson
Farm Aid President Willie Nelson signs 2018 grant checks at his kitchen table.Farm Aid

Tickets for Farm Aid 2019 go on sale Friday (July 12) at 10 a.m. CDT. Farm Aid’s annual music and food festival returns to the heart of dairy country on Sept. 21, at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin.

Farm Aid 2019 will include performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, as well as Bonnie Raitt, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Margo Price, Jamey Johnson, Tanya Tucker, Brothers Osborne, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Yola, and Particle Kid.

Ticket prices range from $54.50 to $249.50 and will be available for purchase at LiveNation.com.

This year, the organization stages Farm Aid 2019 in an economic climate similar to the one that sparked the first Farm Aid concert in 1985. Median farm income is expected to be -$1,449 in 2019, and while net farm income in 2019 is projected to be 8% higher than prior year levels, it will remain among the bottom 25% of all time. Farmer stress also is growing, with the risk of depression and suicide among people working in agriculture increasing as compared to the general population. Calls to Farm Aid’s farmer hotline have borne this out, with a 109% increase in calls in 2018.

“With devastating weather, low prices and harmful farm and trade policies, America’s family farmers are facing immense challenges to hold on to their farms. It’s not right … family farmers are essential for all of us,” Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson said. “By bringing our festival to the heart of the struggle, we will stand side by side with farmers. At Farm Aid 2019, we’ll highlight solutions and show our support for family farmers’ contributions to our health, economy and environment.”

The experience

The annual Farm Aid festival is a unique experience. Farm Aid 2019 will serve HOMEGROWN Concessions, which will showcase family farm-sourced ingredients at all the festival’s food stands including the HOMEGROWN Youthmarket, a farm stand operated by youth involved in farming and farmers markets. Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Village features hands-on activities about soil, water, energy, food and farming. Festivalgoers can hear farmers and artists discuss issues and share stories on the FarmYard Stage, as well as attend demonstrations to learn agrarian skills and celebrate the culture of agriculture in the HOMEGROWN Skills tent.

Farm Aid is teaming up with IfOnly to offer a collection of items and experiences, from behind-the-scenes tours and VIP ticket packages to signed memorabilia from this year’s artists. People can purchase and bid on these special offerings at www.ifonly.com/FarmAid.                                                                                                                                       

Source: Farm Aid, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset. 

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