Neil Young Returns to the Stage After Illness

Neil Young is making a much-anticipated comeback to live performances.

As reported by the Cotton State Chronicle, the iconic rock star is scheduled to perform at Farm Aid, hosted at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in New York on September 21. This appearance comes just a month after he had to cut his tour short due to illness.

Young, who has been a staple at every Farm Aid event since its inception in 1985 (with the exceptions of 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19), will be joining a lineup of performers that includes Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews, among others.

In a statement, Willie Nelson, who has faced his own health challenges recently, expressed excitement about the event. "We are energized to be back in New York. The farmers here have always found ways to innovate and contribute to their communities, even as they deal with uncertainties, extreme weather, and policies that favor corporations over people. Farmers need us to stand with them as they work to grow our future."

Young's return to the stage comes after he and his band, Crazy Horse, canceled their "Love Earth Tour" last month. Despite having performed in Alabama in May, the tour came to an abrupt halt following their June 22 performance in Michigan when some band members fell ill. This led to the postponement of two shows in Texas before deciding to end the tour prematurely.

"The Love Earth Tour has been a great experience for us so far," Young shared in a statement on his website. "GREAT AUDIENCES AND MUSIC. WE HAVE HAD A BLAST! When a couple of us got sick after Detroit’s Pine Knob, we had to stop. We are still not fully recovered, so sadly our great tour will have a big unplanned break. We will try to play some of the dates we miss as time passes when we are ready to rock again!"

Farm Aid promises to be a significant event, not only marking Young's return to live performances but also continuing its mission to support family farmers across America.