John Mellencamp Announces Farm Aid 2008 Concert

My friend, Betsy Hijazi has been with me at various reality TV events and attended today’s press event to announce this year’s Farm Aid concert. Betsy also writes b5media’s Aguilera Buff blog, so be sure to go read the latest news about Christina Aguilera!

Today I was walking through Boston’s Copley Square Farmers Market and I stumbled upon an imminent press conference by Farm Aid announcing that the Farm Aid 2008 Concert will be held on September 20, 2008 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Being a special ‘on the scene reporter’ for Lynn DeVries, I whipped out my Blackberry and began texting Lynn about the press conference and started taking photos like crazy. [Isn't she wonderful?!]

[Photo: Betsy Hijazi]

The real kicker was that Farm Aid co-founder John Mellencamp would be making the announcement himself. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! There I stood, directly behind the local Boston media, not 20 feet away from John Mellencamp!

[Photo: Betsy Hijazi]

If you don’t remember what Farm Aid is, or if it vaguely rings a bell, let me clue you in.

Farm Aid was formed in 1985 by musicians Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young with the goal to raise money for and bring awareness about the plight of America’s struggling farmers. Farm Aid’s first concert brought together more than 60 artists and 80,000 fans and the inaugural concert raised more than $7 million dollars.

Held annually, this is the first time Farm Aid has been hosted in New England, and I, for one, am very excited! The list of performers hasn’t yet been announced, but the current headliners will be Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews, all Farm Aid Board members.

In prior years, performers included Elton John, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Crosby Stills & Nash, Hootie and the Blowfish, Paul Simon, Bruce Hornsby, Bryan Adams, Ringo Starr, Martina McBride, Neville Brothers, Gin Blossoms, Jewell, The Allman Brothers Band, Phish, Deana Carter, the Barenaked Ladies, Keb’Mo’, Montgomery Gentry, and Counting Crows, just to name a few!

Today John Mellencamp said they were working on the lineup of performers and he’ll be calling up James Taylor himself to make sure he comes! James won’t have much of a commute as he lives in the area!
(click on “Read More” for the rest of the article)

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Farm Aid is committed to organic growing and bringing homegrown food to tabletops locally. Their 100-mile rule is to eat food that has been grown within 100 miles of your home.

According to Farm Aid, “Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family-farmed food. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Ultimately, Farm Aid’s work is all about connecting people who want good food to the family farmers committed to growing it. As farming once again becomes a viable career choice, more young people will become farmers, replenishing our country with new farmers and ensuring the availability of food from family farms. This is Farm Aid’s hope and vision for a new American agriculture.”

“We started out to save the family farmer. Now it looks like the family farmer is going to save us.” ~~ Willie Nelson

To learn more about Farm Aid, and how to support, donate and make a difference, visit Farm Aid at www.farmaid.org. Tickets for Farm Aid 2008 go on sale to the general public on July 28, 2008 via Ticketmaster. However, FarmYard members (Farm Aid fan club) may purchase tickets beginning July 16th. Sign up now!

See Boston.com for more about today’s announcement.

Links:

Farm Aid: www.farmaid.org

Farm Aid 2008 Concert: http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2723605/

Join FarmYard: http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.3992093/

Ticketmaster: www.ticketmaster.com