John Mellencamp, Neil Young Among ‘At Home With Farm Aid’ Performers
The live-streamed benefit, hosted by Willie Nelson, will spotlight the effects of COVID-19 on independent farmers.
This Saturday, 11 April, AXS will present At Home With Farm Aid, featuring home performances by John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Neil Young and Willie Nelson, who will host the event along with his sons Lukas and Micah. The broadcast, which will bring the long-running festival into homes across the country, will not only benefit independent farmers but also focus on the effects that COVID-19 is having on their livelihoods. The special will air at 8:00 pm EST on AXS TV and its social media channels, as part of its “@Home And Social” initiative. Viewers will be encouraged to make donations via Farm Aid’s website, where the program will also be live-streamed.
In an official statement, Nelson, who also stands as Farm Aid’s president, said, “The coronavirus has disrupted our entire country and is a grave threat to all of us. One of its many impacts is that it has helped us to better see the value of essential people like healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, delivery truck drivers, and farmers and ranchers.”
Nelson went on to declare that, “Farm Aid has worked for 35 years to build a family farm centred agricultural system, and we are here now to support farmers and ranchers in this crisis, without whom we could not eat. The time to build a resilient family farm food system is now.”
Sarah Weidman – AXS TV’s Head of Original Programming, Development and Multi-Platform Content – added, “Farmers have given so much to America. With COVID-19 putting the farming industry to the ultimate test, it’s our turn to give back.”
The following evening, AXS will also air The Best of Farm Aid 2019 at 8:00 pm EST. The special will feature over two hours of footage from last year’s festival, including sets by Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Tanya Tucker, Yola and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. As a special bonus, the broadcast will include a previously unaired performance by Bonnie Raitt.
Originally organised in 1985 by Mellencamp, Nelson and Young, Farm Aid has worked to build a dynamic family farm-centred agricultural system benefiting farms of all sizes. With few exceptions, the festival has taken place in a different location every year across America and featured memorable performances by music’s biggest names, including Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and Sheryl Crowe.
To learn more about Farm Aid, visit their official website.
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