I'm looking forward to going to Farm Aid in September. I just hope it isn't a really hot day. The headliners for Farm Aid are Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, DMB, and Jack White. I'm also looking forward to seeing the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the show. Later in September I may see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and I'm definitely seeing Chatham County Line and Head and the Heart. I had a really good time seeing Hayes Carll back in July.
I went to Farm Aid in 2012 in Hershey PA with a similar lineup plus Kenny Chesney. It was my excuse to go see Neil Young. It may be the last time I see him, you never know when people will croak.
Mellencamp and band put on a pretty good show but he cannot sing worth #### any more. His voice is just shot. Not a bad performance though. Dave Matthews --- I guess he played and sang well and the crowd loved him, I just cannot stand his music. Didn't think much of Chesney though his band was really tight, first time I'd really listened to him. But my wife loves him so there's that. Neil Young and Crazy Horse were ragged, but even when they're ragged they're awesome; best garage band alive. "Ramada Inn" and "Like a Hurricane" were the highlights. Definitely worth going.
Farm Aid was fun. All of the acts were good. Here is a bit about some of the ones I saw:
Raelyn Nelson Band - Willie's granddaughter. This is a female led country rock band. They had a lot of good toe tapping songs.
Insects vs Robots - Willie's son. They are kinda like a psychedelic folk rock band. Whatever they are I liked them.
Todd Snider - He has a great sense of humor. I enjoyed his banter throughout his set. He is alternative country.
Carlene Carter - June Carter's daughter. She performed with just her guitar, and her singing was great.
Jamey Johnson - He would fit right in with the outlaw country Highway Men.
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real - Willie's son. He's good. His music has a lot of rock in it, and he played a great solo on his guitar with his teeth.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Lots of fun. This band knows how to swing.
Gary Clark, Jr. - One of the highlights of the day for me. I loved his set of the blues.
Jack White - He rocked.
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - They did a mellow acoustic set.
John Mellencamp - His voice started out rough, but it smoothed out within the second song. He had fun with the audience, and put on a good show.
Neil Young - Neil was good, and was the most political of anyone at the show. He went on some rants, and he got some boos when he started going on about corporate evil, and NC Senator Burr. He told the booers that they can take their booing to the voting booth next time they go.
Willie Nelson & Family - I was surprised that Willie sang as much as he did. His voice started out a bit shaky at first (he is in his 80s), but it got better the more he sang, and he was in full Willie form while singing "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me Til I Die." He had a lot of people on stage with him, and it was fun.