Farm Aid 2019: Bonnie Raitt, Nathaniel Rateliff, Margo Price, Jamey Johnson Coming To Wisconsin

– Farm Aid 2019

Farm Aid is coming to Wisconsin for the second time, Sept. 21 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy featuring Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson & Family, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds topping the poster.

Featuring family farmers, the good food they produce and inspiring music, the lineup also includes Bonnie Raitt, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Margo Price, Jamey Johnson, Tanya Tucker, Brothers Osborne, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, Yola, and Particle Kid.

Farm Aid 2019 takes place during an economic climate similar to the one that sparked the first Farm Aid concert in 1985, according to organizers, with median farm income expected to be -$1,449 in 2019 and, while net farm income in 2019 is projected to be 8% higher than prior year levels, it will remain among the bottom 25% of all time.

The announcement also notes that farmer stress also is growing, with the risk of depression and suicide among people working in agriculture increasing as compared to the general population. Calls to Farm Aid’s farmer hotline have borne this out, with a 109% increase in calls in 2018.

“With devastating weather, low prices and harmful farm and trade policies, America’s family farmers are facing immense challenges to hold onto their farms,” Willie Nelson said in a statement. “It’s not right… family farmers are essential for all of us…At Farm Aid 2019, we’ll highlight solutions and show our support for family farmers’ contributions to our health, economy and environment.”

A limited number of presale tickets will go on sale July 10 at 10 a.m. CDT, with the public onsale July 12 at livenation.com.

Wisconsin boasts a diverse array of livestock, row crop and vegetable production, with the state second behind California for number of organic farms and having a strong direct market movement.

A Farm Aid 2019 app will be available in August, giving details for the Homegrown Concessions menu, performance schedules and more. A Homegrown Village onsite will be a mini-festival of sorts with hands-on activities, demonstrations and networking opportunities.

Courtesy BeachLife – Willie Nelson

“At Farm Aid…we’ll come together to stand up to the handful of corporations that control our food system. If you want a better world, it starts with you,” John Mellencamp said in a statement.

Volunteers are encouraged to participate as well.

Last year’s Farm Aid took place at Xfinity center in Hartford, Conn., with Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton and many others.

The previous two Farm Aids both reported about 20,000 tickets sold and $1.5 million grossed, with 2017 at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pa., and 2016 at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Va.