Neil Young has pulled out of appearing at this year's Farm Aid 2021, set for September 25th at Hartford, Connecticut's Xfinity Theatre. Young, who along with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp is a board member for the organization, which started back in 1985, posted a message to fans on his NeilYoungArchives page writing, “Lots is going on in our world right now. I find myself wondering whether Farm Aid will be safe for everyone with the Covid pandemic surging. I worry about that. I don’t want to let anybody down, but still can’t shake the feeling that it might not be safe for everyone.”
Young went on to post, “All you people who can’t go to a concert because you still don’t feel safe, I stand with you. I don't want you to see me playing and think it's safe now. I don’t want to play until you feel safe, and it is indeed, safe. My soul tells me it would be wrong to risk having anyone die because they wanted to hear music and be with friends. . . no matter where you are, I am with you. Do what you must, but think it through. We will be back. There is much work to do together.”
Following last year's virtual concerts, Farm Aid 2021 is back in person. The concert's line up is: Willie Nelson & Family, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Bettye LaVette, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Allison Russell, Particle Kid, and Mellencamp's nephew, Ian Mellencamp.
