Bob Dylan amazed a large crowd of fans at the sold-out Farm Aid festival hosted by Willie Nelson. This surprise performance took place on Saturday (Sept. 23) at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana. It is worth noting that this appearance occurred 38 years after Dylan initially came up with the concept for the event now known as Farm Aid.
During Live Aid on July 13, 1985, in Philadelphia, Dylan mentioned the possibility of a similar benefit concert to support American family farmers. This idea struck a chord with Nelson, who was watching the event on his tour-bus TV. Nelson decided to investigate the economic difficulties faced by family farmers, which ultimately led to the formation of Farm Aid.
The inaugural Farm Aid concert, held on September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, featured an extraordinary lineup of country and rock musicians. Alongside Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp, other notable performers included Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison, Bonnie Raitt, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Tragically, Tom Petty passed away in 2017.
Farm Aid has now become the longest-running benefit concert dedicated to a cause in the music industry. Over the past three decades, it has managed to generate more than $64 million to support family farmers and promote a sustainable food system. The current board of Farm Aid includes illustrious figures such as Dave Matthews and Margo Price.
During this year's Farm Aid, additional acts like Bobby Weir & the Wolf Bros. featuring the Wolfpack, Lukas Nelson, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Allison Russell, The String Cheese Incident, and Particle Kid also took the stage. Moreover, Clayton Anderson, The Black Opry featuring Lori Rayne, Tylar Bryant and Kyshona, the Jim Irsay Band featuring Ann Wilson of Heart, Native Pride Productions, and the Wisdom Indian Dancers showcased their talents.
It is worth mentioning that Dylan and Petty performed together at the first Farm Aid concert in 1985. Their collaboration extended beyond that event and resulted in the True Confessions Tour, which featured the Heartbreakers as Dylan's backing band for approximately 60 shows across Australia, Japan, and the United States. Notable venues on this tour included RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., and Madison Square Garden.
The duo also partook in the second Farm Aid concert on July 4, 1986, where they performed via satellite from Rich Stadium near Buffalo, New York. They later embarked on another tour called Temples in Flames in 1987. Throughout these ventures, Dylan and Petty's creative friendship blossomed.
In 1988, Dylan invited Petty, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison to Malibu for a recording session that resulted in the song "Handle Me With Care." Originally intended as the B-side for a single from Harrison's Cloud Nine album, the song went on to inspire the formation of the tongue-in-cheek supergroup known as The Traveling Wilburys.
Therefore, Farm Aid not only provided Dylan with a platform to make a difference in the lives of American family farmers but also served as the catalyst for a successful touring partnership and a hit recording collaboration. Once again, on this year's Saturday event, the legendary singer contributed to the cause he initially proposed on stage 38 years ago: supporting American family farmers.
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