The 40th annual Farm Aid concert unfolded on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, bringing together an all-star lineup featuring Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Billy Strings, Jesse Welles, and many more.
The event nearly faced a last-minute crisis when a local Teamsters strike with the University of Minnesota threatened to force a cancellation or relocation. Fortunately, the strike was resolved just days before the show, and Farm Aid 40 went off without a hitch.
Willie Nelson & Family
Introduced by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as an “American icon,” Willie Nelson closed out the evening in his signature style. Taking the stage just before midnight, he launched into his traditional opener “Whiskey River” before welcoming Lily Meola for a duet on “Will You Remember Mine.” The poignant “Last Leaf on the Tree,” from his 76th solo studio album released in 2024, stood out as a highlight.
The star-studded finale—though notably without Dylan—wrapped up at 12:45 a.m. with sing-along classics including “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “It’s Hard to Be Humble,” and “I Saw the Light.”
Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts
Neil Young and his powerhouse band kicked things off with the fiery new protest anthem “Big Crime,” followed by a searing “Rockin’ in the Free World.” Neil shifted gears with a solo piano rendition of “Long Walk Home,” then delivered an electric “Southern Man” and a moving acoustic “Old Man” to round out a politically charged and musically dynamic set.
Bob Dylan
A late but welcome addition to the bill, Minnesota’s own Bob Dylan drew massive anticipation. Clad in a black North Face hoodie, he stationed himself behind a baby grand piano on a dimly lit stage, keeping the focus squarely on the music. His set opened with a blistering “All Along the Watchtower,” rolled into a rollicking Bo Diddley cover (“I Can Tell”), and included hometown nods with “Highway 61 Revisited.” Dylan closed with a soulful “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” harmonica in hand.
John Mellencamp
Farm Aid co-founder John Mellencamp delivered a gritty set, opening with the timely “Lawless Times.” Fans sang along to ‘80s anthems “Small Town” and an acoustic “Jack & Diane,” while “Paper in Fire” and “Rain on the Scarecrow” underscored Mellencamp’s enduring social commentary.
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Now fixtures of Farm Aid, Dave Matthews and guitar wizard Tim Reynolds offered a captivating acoustic set. Joined midway by violin virtuoso Jake Renick Simpson, the trio wove intricate improvisations through “Crush” and “Warehouse,” reminding the crowd why they’ve become fan favorites at Farm Aid.
Margo Price
Margo Price—artist, board member, and Farm Aid darling—again proved herself a centerpiece of the festival. She began with “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down,” inspired by Kris Kristofferson’s words to Sinéad O’Connor in 1992, then moved through stirring covers of Waylon Jennings’ “Kissing You Goodbye” and Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee.” Her standout moment came when she, Billy Strings, and Jesse Welles tore through Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm,” bringing the house down.
Billy Strings
Fresh off his fourth Entertainer of the Year award from the IBMA, Billy Strings showed why he’s a generational force in bluegrass. His set—energetic from start to finish—featured “Dust in a Baggie,” “Hellbender,” and a heartfelt dedication of “Gild the Lily” to his wife. With fiddler Alex Hargreaves joining in, Strings blended traditional fire with youthful innovation. Dave Matthews introduced him simply: “a generational talent.”
Lukas Nelson
Backed by Promise of the Real with guest Corey McCormick and Jake Renick Simpson, Lukas Nelson delivered a heartfelt set highlighted by a duet with Sierra Ferrell on Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend.” Ferrell also joined Nelson for several other songs, showcasing her rising star power. Nelson announced from the stage that he recently recorded with the Del McCoury Band, with new music on the way.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
A Farm Aid mainstay, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats lit up the stadium with their rock-soul groove, tearing through “Look It Here,” “S.O.B.,” and “I Need Never Get Old.” Their closer, “Love Don’t,” left fans buzzing. Rateliff’s consistent presence—on stage, in press conferences, and in Farm Aid’s Homegrown Village—has cemented him as one of the event’s truest champions.
Trampled by Turtles
Minnesota’s own Trampled by Turtles received a warm hometown welcome. Introduced by the state’s Agriculture Commissioner, Thom Peterson, the Duluth band thrilled with “Victory,” “Whiskey,” and “Wait So Long.” Frontman Dave Simonett summed it up best: “To be playing Farm Aid in our home state of Minnesota… feels like a dream.”
Wynonna Judd
Looking and sounding every bit the queen of country, Wynonna Judd commanded the stage with a six-song set including “I Saw the Light,” “Rockin’ with the Rhythm,” and “Rock Bottom.” “Music is a healer,” she told the crowd, and her voice proved it.
Steve Earle
Recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, Steve Earle delivered two short but powerful sets. First came acoustic takes on “Guitar Town” and “The Rain Came Down,” before he returned later with barn-burning renditions of “Galway Girl” and “Copperhead Road.”
Waxahatchee
Katie Crutchfield, backed by her sextet, brought an indie-folk flourish to Farm Aid. Standouts included “Can’t Do Much,” “Problem With It,” and “Right Back to It,” bolstered by Colin Croom’s shimmering pedal steel.
Jesse Welles
Back for his second Farm Aid, Jesse Welles mixed raw solo performances with full-band rockers. His biting anthem “Red” carried a topical edge:
“There’s a deep swamp, and I’ll drain it
For my people are in danger
Who would have ever thought the Deep State
Were the National Park rangers.”
A rising voice in Americana, Welles has clearly found a home at Farm Aid.
A Legacy of Music and Mission
The roots of Farm Aid trace back to Bob Dylan’s offhand comment during Live Aid in 1985, when he wondered aloud if some of the money raised could also support struggling American farmers. Forty years later, that spirit endures. Farm Aid continues to raise funds and awareness for family farms while delivering one of the most meaningful concert experiences in America.
