Photos by Stephen Bloch

As members of the Farm Aid Board of Directors, Neil Young and Willie Nelson are keen on making the annual benefit a standout gig, and 2019’s iteration at Alpine Valley was no different, with Young joining Nelson onstage for a trio of songs to close out the evening.

The one-day event kicked off late due to rain, but still offered a full day of music, with sets by Tanya Tucker, Yola, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Bonnie Raitt, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds and more.

Young took the stage with his trusted colleagues Promise of The Real almost an hour later than scheduled, offering a fiery single set, with a “Workin’ Man” opener and several hits like “Harvest Moon,” “Heart of Gold” and “Rockin’ In The Free World.” Young & POTR ended their Farm Aid set with “Roll Another Number (For The Road).”

Nelson closed the show with a special Willie Nelson & Family set, which was full of the Red Headed Stranger’s signature wit, starting off with “Whiskey River.” Standout tunes included a version of Ed Bruce’s “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and Nelson’s Merle Haggard collaboration “It’s All Going to Pot.”

It wouldn’t be a Nelson performance without “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” and following the tune invited Young onstage for “I Saw the Light” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” before Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Margo Price joined them for a show-stopping “I’ll Fly Away.”

“Thank ya’ll very much and have a good evening,” Nelson said, bidding the crowd goodnight.

Check out Young and Nelson’s full Farm Aid setlists and view shots of the event below:

Neil Young & Promise of the Real
Sept. 21, 2019
Farm Aid, Alpine Valley, East Troy, Wisc.

Workin’ Man, Homegrown, Harvest Moon, Heart Of Gold, Throw Your Hatred Down, Rockin’ In The Free World, Roll Another Number (For The Road)

Willie Nelson & Family
Sept. 21
Farm Aid, Alpine Valley, East Troy, Wisc.

Whiskey River, Still Is Still Moving to Me, Texas Flood, Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, It’s All Going to Pot, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, I Saw the Light^, Will the Circle Be Unbroken^, I’ll Fly Away^%

Notes:
^with Neil Young
%with Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Margo Price