SARATOGA SPRINGS–Let me just start out before I write this in a journalistic view, that this was one of the most amazing concerts that I have ever seen.

Let me start off by giving you some background about Farm Aid. Farm Aid started as a benefit concert on September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, held to raise money for the local and small family farmers in the United States. The concert was organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. This has become quite a big deal over the years seeing as how all of the corporate farms have made it almost impossible for local farmers to stay in business.

This year it was decided that Farm Aid was to be at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). To have Farm Aid only a half an hour ride from my house… there was no way I was going to miss an opportunity like that. I can guarantee that Farm Aid is not like any other show you have seen before. It is a huge event. First off, they had 17 acts in just one day, and that’s not counting the local bands either. A second stage was set up for the smaller acts, so for a good amount of the afternoon, there were two bands performing.

I had two favorite bands: the first was Neil Young. He was amazing! I had wanted to see him for years, so to finally see him live…it was awesome! The other band I had never seen before was called Bahammas, who are from Canada. They were really laid back and relaxed with their music. It was the type of music that you could listen to for hours.

Besides the bands, there were three huge tents set up for vendors and informational booths on farming. Multiple older farm tractors had been brought in for show. There were smaller tents that also displayed local produce and meats that were provided by farmers that you could buy from them to help support them. The concert ran from noon until about eleven thirty at night. And let me tell you, it was one amazing show, as well as a very beneficial one. All of the proceeds go towards farmers in need and for small, local farms.

Did you go to the show? What did you think?