Minneapolis, MN – September 21, 2024 – Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan headlined Farm Aid 40 in Minneapolis today, drawing a large crowd to support family farmers. The event, held Saturday, featured a diverse lineup including Duluth‘s Trampled by Turtles, who performed a 30-minute set between Wynonna Judd and Steve Earle.
Trampled by Turtles, an acoustic sextet, played six songs, highlighted by violinist Ryan Young’s solos during “Codeine” and their set-closer, “Wait so Long.” The band is currently touring with Nelson and Dylan as part of the Outlaw Music Festival lineup.
Steve earle, a long-time farm Aid performer, took the stage following Trampled by Turtles. Earle shared his family’s connection to farming, stating, “I’m one generation removed from a farm that didn’t do well.My grandfather was in and out of it several times. Raised peaches, northeast Texas.” He recounted attending the first Farm Aid in 1985 and being invited to perform at the second show in Austin, Texas. Feeling unprepared without a relevant song, he wrote “The Rain Came Down” for the third Farm Aid, which has since become a staple of the event.
Event organizers reported a larger-than-expected early turnout, with lines at the gates shortening significantly by 4:03 p.m. Max peterson, managing one of the largest gates, noted a ”steady rush” broke within the last hour and anticipated a smaller influx around 6 p.m. as the headliners prepared to perform.
