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Bob Dylan Joins Music Lineup for Saturday's Farm Aid 40 Concert

  • Writer: Bob Benenson
    Bob Benenson
  • Sep 17
  • 3 min read

Lineup of Music Icons To Be Share Live for Non-Attendees on Multiple Channels


Bob Dylan's unannounced performance at the 2023 Farm Aid concert
Music icon Bob Dylan (center in photo) made an unannounced appearance at the 2023 Farm Aid concert in Noblesville, Indiana outside Indianapolis. Farm Aid announced on September 17 that Dylan will again perform at Farm Aid 40, which takes place in Minneapolis on September 20.

This afternoon (September 17), I received news that almost made me fall out of my chair: Music legend Bob Dylan has joined the already incredible lineup of performers for Farm Aid's annual concert, which takes place Saturday (September 20) at the University of Minnesota football stadium in Minneapolis.


As this is the 40th anniversary of the first Farm Aid concert, it is totally fitting that Dylan will be there.


An economic crisis for farmers was spreading in 1985, threatening livelihoods and even lives. Dylan in July of that year was performing a set at Live Aid, an international fundraiser for famine relief in Ethiopia, when he remarked that a similar concert should be held to help America's struggling family farmers. That inspired music stars Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp to produce a Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois, at which Dylan performed.


The event was initially planned to be a one-off, but challenges for family farmers have persisted. Farm Aid has carried on for these farmers while expanding its mission as a leading advocate for a food system that is better for people and the planet.


Dylan also performed at the 1986 Farm Aid concert in Manor, Texas, but not again until 2023, when he played an unannounced three-song set at Farm Aid 38 in Noblesville, Indiana outside Indianapolis.


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Dylan joins the concert's already epic lineup. Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp continue their roles as headliners along with Dave Matthews and Margo Price, the newer musician members of the Farm Aid Board of Directors. They will be joined by outstanding performers who include country music legends Kenny Chesney, Wynonna Judd and Steve Earle, plus Jesse Welles, whose topical, off-the-news protest songs have some calling him the Bob Dylan of his generation.


NOT ATTENDING? WATCH THE CONCERT LIVE


Over the past few years, Farm Aid has live-streamed its concerts so those not able to attend can watch. This year's accessibility has been dramatically expanded as CNN will present the headliners' part of the concert that is scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. central time.


Here are all the options provided by Farm Aid:


  • Stream live in HD at farmaid.org, starting at 11:30am CDT. Watch the festival on your TV, computer, phone or tablet at farmaid.org or on Farm Aid’s YouTube channel.


  • CNN will broadcast a special presentation of Farm Aid 40 From 6pm – 11pm CDT, featuring live performances of Farm Aid Board artists.


  • Watch on nugs via the nugs mobile app, on their website or on the official nugs YouTube channel starting at 11:30am CDT.


  • Listen at noon CDT on SiriusXM's Willie's Roadhouse (channel 61) and Dave Matthews Band Radio (channel 30) via SiriusXM radio and on the SXM app.


I will be attending to report for Local Food Forum readers. It will be my third Farm Aid Festival in a row and my fourth overall. I have come away from each fueled with inspiration and by the company of so many people who support local farmers and the goal of a better food system.


And it just keeps getting better and better.



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