Neil Young, Willie Nelson perform at SPAC
Young, Nelson headline Outlaw Music Festival
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Neil Young and Willie Nelson graced Saratoga Performing Arts Center as the headliners for the Outlaw Music Festival Sunday.
Neil Young, playing with Promise of the Real, told the packed crowd in his mind he was still at Saturday’s Farm Aid in Connecticut, saying something about he’d be present in Saratoga Springs midway through his set nevertheless his subconscious rocked as he opened his set with “Tell Me Why.” The festival featured Particle Kid, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Nathan- iel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Sturgill Simpson and the aforementioned Young and Nelson.
Festival goers were treated to wide-ranging sounds of rock, outlaw country and anything in between. There truly was something for music lovers of all genres. Young and Nelson played Saturday night at Farm Aid 2018, and the sentimental values showcased there certainly lingered on SPAC throughout Sunday. Young referenced farmer’s markets sev-
eral times, urging the audience to never balk at an opportunity to buy something at a market. It was a reoccurring theme throughout the duration of his performance.
The audience seemed to enjoy Sturgill Simpson and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats upbeat music. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats appeared at SPAC just last year, opening for Kings of Leon. It’s easy to tap your foot and clap your hands during a Rateliff song. Towards the end of his set he played his hit “S.O.B.”, which drew a mighty loud response from fans. Simpson, a four-piece band based in Kentucky, emphasizes strongly with Outlaw Country. Simpson set up Young just right with loud music as the sky grew darker.
Young brought out the harmonica five songs in during Heart of Gold. Throughout his set he played the keys and piano, too, while performing “Lotta Love”, “Love to Burn” and “Are You Ready for the Coun- try?” Young ended his set with “Ohio” and “Rockin’ in the Free World”, the latter of which enjoyably didn’t seem to end. It wasn’t the last of Young, however, as he joined Nelson twice, once for “On the Road Again” and a second time with Rateliff for “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”.
Nelson covered a number of artists, notably Ed Bruce, Hank Williams and Billy Joe Shaver during his performance, which was over an hour. Nelson is the reason why the festival exists, and he played just like he always does. He put on a show, capping off a wonderful day of music.