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Nation Beat performs with Willie Nelson at Farm Aid

September 23 2008

Willie Nelson and Nation Beat front-woman Liliana share a moment onstage at Farm Aid 2008.

Country legend and Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson joined Evergreen artist Nation Beat onstage at Farm Aid 2008 in Mansfield, Mass. “These guys called me wanting to play Farm Aid, and I just loved their music so much I told them to come on down,” said Nelson.”  Nation Beat’s unique blend of northern Brazilian rhythms with Appalachian fiddle twang caught the ear of Nelson, who was grinning from ear to ear as he sat in with the band on Sunday afternoon. 

“I remember when Willie organized that very first Farm Aid,” Nation Beat founder/percussionist Scott Kettner said, “so getting asked to play this one, then getting a e-mail from Willie asking if he could sing with us on Blue Eyes and (Hank Williams’) I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry was amazing.” 

In 1985, Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert. Since then, the three - joined by Dave Matthews on the board of directors in 2001 - have raised $30 million with the annual shows, while keeping the issue of American-grown, small farm-produced food in the spotlight.

Click here to check out PRI's coverage, including an interview with Nation Beat and Willie Nelson!