Farm Aid 40 brings all-star music lineup to Minneapolis
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Singer-songwriters Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and John Mellencamp stand together on stage during the 1985 Farm Aid. Photo: Bettman/Getty Images
The 40th annual Farm Aid concert will rock the Twin Cities on Saturday.
Why it matters: The daylong festival at Huntington Bank Stadium brings some of the biggest names in music to Minneapolis to raise money to support small and family farms.
- It's the first time the benefit will be held in the agriculture-heavy state.
State of the stages: The star-studded lineup includes Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Wynonna Judd.
Catch up fast: Farm Aid and its affiliated nonprofit have raised more than $85 million to "promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture" since Young, Mellencamp and Nelson headlined the first benefit concert in 1985.
- That money is routed through organizations that provide farmers with financial assistance, education and training, in addition to lobbying and organizing support.
What they're saying: "I know how hard [a farmer's] job is," Nelson, 92, told the Star Tribune recently. "I just wanted to do what I could do. The problem doesn't go away."
The big picture: The fundraiser comes at a challenging time for Minnesota's farmers, who are navigating tariff and immigration policies, a trend toward consolidation and other financial pressures.
- Median net farm incomes in the state dropped to just under $22,000 in 2024, hitting the lowest mark in over 20 years, per MPR News.
Stunning stat: Those issues are leading some to leave the industry altogether: In 2023 alone, the state lost over 120 dairy farms.
Friction point: Organizers considered canceling or moving the concert as recently as last week due to a labor dispute between the University of Minnesota and its striking workers. An agreement to end the strike, reached over the weekend, allowed the event to proceed as planned.
🎟️ If you go: Remaining tickets sold through the official portal started at $114 as of Wednesday. They're also available through resale sites, though proceeds from those sales don't contribute to the cause.
- Parking passes are available for $33, and the stadium is accessible via light rail and other forms of transit, including special buses departing from the west metro.
📺 Tune in: Those who can't attend IRL can watch online or listen via the Willie's Roadhouse or Dave Matthews Band Radio channels on Sirius XM starting at noon on Saturday.
- CNN will broadcast the show starting at 6pm.