Wilco to Support Rolling Stones, Play Farm Aid

Wow. It's been quite some time since we've given you a Wilco update. Jeff Tweedy & Co. have been busy busy bumblebees, but for some reason, they held back on the publicity until recently when a ginormous press release magically appeared at Pitchfork HQ.

First off, Wilco will be peforming at this year's Farm Aid concert, comin' at you September 18 from suburban Chicago. The band is joining a few artists you've probably never heard of-- Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews. Ring a bell?

Yeah, this is some big business, but I guess Wilco are too. I mean, they do have a couple Grammys under their belt now. Farm Aid was born way back in 1985, its intention to "sing a song of hope for rural Americans," according to the event's official website. Over the past 20 years, Farm Aid has given over 17 million dollars to a variety of farm organizations, churches, and service agencies across America. Said Jeff Tweedy of the awareness-raising event, "I grew up in Southern Illinois and I've seen farms close and the effect that can have on families and communities. I'll take any opportunity I can to help address that problem. To get to share a stage with the likes of Neil Young and Willie Nelson...well, that's just a great bonus."

Wilco has also confirmed plans to play a handful of concerts within the next few months, including a date at 2005's Austin City Limits as well as Rio de Janeiro's Tim Festival this fall. Other plans for this upcoming season include the release of a live CD and DVD on Nonesuch Records, recorded over a series of four consecutive performances at Chicago's Vic Theatre earlier this year.

Anyway, here are the tour dates. Pay special attention to the asterisk next to October 15:

09-02 Vitoria, Spain - Azkena Festival
09-04 Palermo, Italy - Kal's Art Overground
09-06 Milan, Italy - Mazda Palace (Festia De L'Unita)
09-07 Munich, Germany - Backstage
09-08 Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
09-10 Berlin, Germany - Postbanhof
09-11 Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
09-12 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
09-18 Tinley Park, IL - Farm Aid
09-21 Columbia, MO - Outdoors on 9th Street
09-22 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
09-25 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
10-14 Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
10-15 Atlanta, GA - Phillips Arena *
10-22 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Tim Festival

* with the Rolling Stones

* Pitchfork Review: Wilco: A Ghost is Born
* Wilco:

Posted by Kati Llewellyn on Wed, Jul 20, 2005 at 12:00am