Neil Young has withdrawn from Farm Aid 2021 due to ongoing concerns over the pandemic. Young is a co-founder and board member of the event.
The musician had been due to play at the American festival on September 25, alongside artists like John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Sturgill Simpson, Dave Mathews, Margo Price and others.
But Neil Young has now said that he is unable to "shake the feeling that it might not be safe for everyone".
“I find myself wondering whether Farmaid will be safe for everyone with the Covid pandemic surging…I don’t want to let anybody down, but still can’t shake the feeling that it might not be safe for everyone", he wrote on his Neil Young Archives website.
“My soul tells me it would be wrong to risk having anyone die because they wanted to hear music and be with friends".
“While I respect Willie, John and Dave’s decisions to stick with it and play, I am not of the same mind. It is a tough call".
Farm Aid 2021 would have been Young's first live performance since the the 2019 edition of the show in Winsconsin.
“Lots is going on in our world right now. I find myself wondering whether Farmaid will be safe for everyone with the Covid pandemic surging. I worry about that", Young said in a full statement.
He continued, "I don’t want to let anybody down, but still can’t shake the feeling that it might not be safe for everyone. I worry about audiences coming together in these times. The show is sold out".
“All you people who can’t go to a concert because you still don’t feel safe, I stand with you. I don’t want to play until you feel safe, and it is indeed, safe".
“My soul tells me it would be wrong to risk having anyone die because they wanted to hear music and be with friends".
“No matter where you are. I am with you. Do what you must, but think it through. We will be back. There is much work to do together".
“Since we know vaccinated people can catch and spread Covid, I worry about the children who could become infected after Farmaid, just by being with someone, maybe a parent, who caught the virus at Farmaid and didn’t know it. There are already too many children in hospitals".
“While I respect Willie, John and Dave’s decisions to stick with it and play, I am not of the same mind. It is a tough call".
‘”As time passes, I hope the path ahead will become clear. be well love ny".
Back in June, Neil Young had said that he had been working on a new album with his backing band Crazy Horse.
Young admitted it was emotional working with the group again.
