Willie Nelson Announces Virtual “Farm Aid” Festival On April 11

On September 22, 1985, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young came together to throw a festival that would benefit America’s family farmers.

The first concert was at University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in Champaign with 80,000 people in attendance. Performers included Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and more. The first year’s festival raised over $9 million for U.S. family farmers.

https://www.facebook.com/WillieNelson/photos/a.131673688452/10153572549913453/?type=3&theater

Since then, Farm Aid has taken place every single year, with the exception of 1991. The 2019 festival occurred on September 22 and ever since, fans have wondered when 2020’s event will go down.

The website has always said that the 2020 date will be announced in spring or early summer of this year, but with the coronavirus pandemic affecting basically the entire year’s events at this point, we weren’t sure if Farm Aid 2020 would ever happen.

The Nelsons have had lots of the success putting on at-home concerts with their “Quarantunes” videos as well as Willie’s virtual concert “‘Til Futher Notice,” which featured countless virtual performances from Willie, his sons Lukas and Micah, Lucinda Williams, Jewel, Paul Simon, and more.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B95LqfDAc-4/

Likely because of this, Willie has announced that 2020’s Farm Aid concert will be taking place on Saturday, April 11. And you get to enjoy it from the comfort of your own home. The festival will air on AXS TV at 8pm EST and on FarmAid.org, Willie announced on social media.

https://www.facebook.com/WillieNelson/photos/a.131673688452/10158380187953453/?type=3&theater

Like always, the concert is a benefit for family farmers in America, who are going through some unprecedented times right now due to the coronavirus pandemic. You can donate by clicking here.

A statement on Willie’s website explained the importance of Farm Aid, this year especially.

“COVID-19 has upended our food system. Farmers are facing many different impacts, from losing their markets and having to quickly adapt to new ways of doing business, to seeing the prices they receive for their crops, livestock and milk take a nosedive. Yet, they are also meeting this moment with solutions and innovations to feed their communities,” the website read.

Willie, Lukas, Micah, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews will all perform.

Watch Willie and his sons perform a “Quarantunes” song below to get yourselves pumped for Saturday!