Willie Nelson’s Annual Farm Aid Benefit Returning To Pennsylvania [TICKET INFO]

The annual Farm Aid benefit concert is returning to Pennsylvania for just the third time since it began in 1985. The benefit concert has not been back in Pennsylvania since 2012 where it was hosted in Hershey.

Organizers decided to bring the concert back to western Pennsylvania because the 17,000 farms in the area have bolstered the economy despite the fluctuating coal and natural gas industries.

Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson said about the decision to bring the concert back to Pennsylvania: “Family farm agriculture is the heart of Pennsylvania. What’s happening in western Pennsylvania and the region shows us that we can count on family farmers to strengthen our communities and connect people. Whether we live in rural or urban places, food — and music — brings us all together.”

Since its beginning more than 30 years ago, the concerts have raised over  $50 million for programs that assist farmers and widen the influence of the Good Food Movement and support family farms over corporate agriculture. Last year’s concert in Washington D.C. raised over $1 million for family farmers.

Performers for this year’s concert include Farm Aid board members Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds. Other acts include Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Jamey Johnson, Blackberry Smoke, Valerie June, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, and Insects vs Robots, with more acts to be announced later.

The benefit will be held on September 16 at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. The festival was first held in Pennsylvania at the same venue 15 years ago, though under a different name at that time. Tickets prices range from $49.50 to $199.50 and go on sale June 23.