Neil Young, Stephen Stills Play Harvest Moon Benefit Concert
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Neil Young (at c) with John Mayer and Stephen Stills at the Harvest Moon benefit concert on Oct. 5, 2024
Stephen Stills and Neil Young headlined a benefit concert, Harvest Moon, on October 5, 2024, in Lake Hughes, Calif. The three-time bandmates (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and their short-lived Stills-Young Band) performed such classic rock favorites as “Long May You Run,” “Love the One You’re With,” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” together at the daytime event which benefitted The Painted Turtle Camp. The non-profit provides children living with serious medical conditions a traditional camp experience free of charge. The outdoor concert also included a brief set by John Mayer.
The event, announced on September 4, also benefitted The Bridge School, which provides free education to children with severe speech and physical impediments. For years, the latter offered an annual all-star benefit concert led by Young. The school was co-founded by his former wife, Pegi Young, who died in 2019. Young and Stills have regularly shared the stage for charitable endeavors. Tickets for the concert were priced at $325 and $275.
Watch Stills and Young open the latter’s 13-song set with “Long May You Run”
Five songs in, Young told the audience how he and first Stills met.
Stills look lead vocals for his Buffalo Springfield classic, “For What It’s Worth”
Stills and Mayer joined for the electric, closing number, Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Thanks to Todd Norris for the videos.
A newly discovered multi-track recording of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s September 20, 1969, concert at the historic Fillmore East in New York City will be released on October 25, 2024. Live At The Fillmore East, 1969 is available for pre-order 2-LPs or 2-CDs in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
In late June, Young canceled the remaining 2024 dates of his tour with Crazy Horse. At the time, he cited illness among the performers. Two months later, in late August, he acknowledged, “I just woke up one morning on the [tour] bus and I said, ‘I can’t do this, I gotta stop.’ And it was like, I felt sick when I thought of going on-stage. My body was telling me, ‘You gotta stop.’ So I listened to my body.” Young turns 79 on November 12. He has since returned with several performances including the 2024 edition of Farm Aid, which took place on September 21 in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Stills hasn’t toured in years, opting instead for one-off appearances, often for charities. He turned 79 on January 3.
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI would love these two to do what McCartney did back in the 90s – a series of programs playing and discussing music that they and others created. And guests . . .
Much respect for the initiative, but why do the tickets have to cost this much? It prevents many low-income fans from supporting the benefit.
.
Neil is healthy enough to play this show but not well enough to perform at OHANA and the Hollywood Bowl. The lack of respect he shows to his fans is enormous.
I disagree, Neil at close to 79 years old if he feels touring isn’t doing his health any good IMHO he made the correct choice.
The shows he’s been playing are one offs and more importantly benefit charities. Fans should show Neil a bit of charity themselves. I understand fans disappointed at having shows cancelled for which they have tickets. What do you prefer Neil cancelling a show because he understands what his body is telling him or do you prefer him to cancel shows due to being hospitalised?
I do agree with the comment above regarding the high price of tickets.