Neil Young Cancels Free Concert in Ukraine

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Neil Young in San Diego 2024 (photo by Thomas K. Arnold, used with permission)

Several weeks after Neil Young proudly announced that he would open his “Love Earth” 2025 world tour with a free concert in Ukraine, he has cancelled the performance. Young had originally revealed the plans on March 2 on his website, indicating, “We are currently in talks.” That announcement added, “Keep on Rocking in the FREE WORLD.” But on March 20, he cancelled the performance, noting “the changing situation on the ground was too much.” The tour with his band, the Chrome Hearts, will now commence as planned on June 20 with concerts in Europe and the U.K. including a headlining performance at the Glastonbury festival and a a concert at London’s Hyde Park (where he’ll be supported by Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Van Morrison). The North American leg of the tour begins August 8. Tickets for most of the concerts are available here.

Of the hoped-for Ukraine performance, Young wrote, “We had a good venue, close to a shelter, but the changing situation on the ground was too much. I could not in good conscience take my crew and instruments into that area. My apologies to all. Ukraine is a great country with a good leader.”

To protect the prices originally set by the artist, this tour will use Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange in North America for all necessary resale and make tickets mobile only and restricted from transfer. This means if fans purchase tickets and can no longer attend, they’ll have the option to resell them to other fans at the original price paid using Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange tool. This applies to all shows except those in Illinois, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Canada, where Face Value Exchange cannot be mandated.

The Chrome Hearts are Spooner Oldham (Farfisa organ), Micah Nelson (guitar and vocal), Corey McCormick (bass and vocal) and Anthony LoGerfo (drums). Their single, “Big Change,” is the introduction of what’s to come on the “Love Earth” tour.

Young’s extensive catalog—with many archival editions—is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.

Young is proud to partner with Farm Aid (which he co-founded in 1985) to bring homegrown concessions to this tour, leading the way to change the live music food system. Homegrown concessions brings family farm food — produced sustainably with a fair price paid to the farmer and served on compostable serviceware — to music venues.

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts “Love Earth” 2025 World Tour (Tickets are available here and here)

Jun 18 – Rättvik, Sweden – Dalhalla
Jun 20 – Bergen, Norway – Bergenhus Fortress
Jun 22 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Tiøren
Jun 26 – Dublin, Ireland – Malahide Castle
Jun 28 – Pilton, UK – Glastonbury Festival
Jun 30 – Brussels, Belgium – Brussels Palace Open Air, Palace Square
Jul 01 – Groningen, Netherlands – Drafbaan Stedpark
Jul 03 – Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne
Jul 04 – Mönchengladbach, Germany – Sparkassenpark
Jul 08 – Stuttgart, Germany – Cannstatter Wasen
Jul 11 – London, UK – BST Hyde Park (with Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Van Morrison)
Aug 08 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Aug 10 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
Aug 13 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Aug 15 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Aug 17 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Aug 19 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Aug 21 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
Aug 23 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Aug 24 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Aug 27 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Sep 01 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Sep 05 – George, WA – The Gorge
Sep 06 – Vancouver, BC – Deer Lake Park
Sep 08 – Vancouver, BC – Deer Lake Park
Sep 10 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Sep 12 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater
Sep 15 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl