With Farm Aid 2020 taking place as an all-star livestream special, a massive audience will hear Willie Nelson and his fellow board members John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Neil Young's message about how the coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted farmers.
"This pandemic and so many other challenges have revealed how essential family farmers and ranchers are to the future of our planet," Nelson told Billboard. "Farm Aid 2020 is going to give the whole country a chance to learn about the important work of farmers and how they're contributing to our well-being, beyond bringing us good food."
Titled Farm Aid 2020 on the Road, the livestream will be free on Saturday, Sept. 26 via Farm Aid's YouTube channel and AXS TV. The virtual festival experience will air from 8-11 EST.
The initial lineup for the 35th anniversary charity event features Nelson, Young, Mellencamp and Matthews plus the following headline-worthy acts:
* Black Pumas
* Bonnie Raitt and Boz Scaggs
* Brandi Carlile
* Chris Stapleton
* Edie Brickell with Charlie Sexton
* Jack Johnson
* Jamey Johnson
* Jon Batiste
* Kelsey Waldon
* Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
* Margo Price
* Nathaniel Rateliff
* Particle Kid
* The Record Company
* Valerie June
* The War and Treaty
Expect more names to be announced in the coming weeks.
Per a press release, Nelson, Young and Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on the land. Matthews joined his fellow Farm Aid board members in 2001. Farm Aid has raised more than $53 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture.
For more information, visit farmaid.org.
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