Music lovers across the West Coast rejoice as Neil Young and Stephen Still announce a reunion for the Harvest Moon: A Gathering benefit festival. This marks the second time the philanthropic music event will have been held. Scheduled to take place on October 5th in Lake Hughes, California, the all-day festival is an opportunity to raise funds for The Painted Turtle and The Bridge School.
Harvest Moon: A Gathering was first announced in 2017. As reported by Datebook, Harvest Moon was conceived in the wake of Neil Young’s announcement that he would discontinue the beloved Bridge School Benefit Concert, a concert that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had held annually in the Bay Area for thirty years. While fans of the concert lamented the loss of the popular event, Harvest Moon continues the tradition of music mixed with philanthropy. The 2024 edition of Harvest Moon will be the second time this festival is held after its first showing in 2019.
According to Live for Live Music, Harvest Moon: A Gathering will benefit The Bridge School and Painted Turtle Camp, a youth camp co-founded by Paul Newman. Both of these organizations benefit children with severe medical conditions. Painted Turtle Camp operates year-round and provides a free camp experience to children in need. Founded in 1986, The Bridge School offers educational programs that address the needs of differently abled children, including children with severe speech and physical impediments.
In addition to fostering an atmosphere of charity, the reunion of Neil Young and Stephen Sills is sure to draw in longtime fans. As stated by the San Fransisco Chronicle, Young and Stills first performed together in 1966. Though their country-rock band Buffalo Springfield produced the well-known hit song “For What It’s Worth,” their collaboration proved to be short-lived. The band disbanded in 1969.
Since then, the two have reunited to be a part of the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The group performed at major venues, including Woodstock. Harvest Moon: A Gathering will only be the latest of a number of instances in which Young and Stills have been seen combining their rock legacies, including the 2023 edition of Stills’s Light Up the Attic benefit concert.
The news of this event follows on the heels of an abrupt cancellation of Neil Young’s tour with Crazy Horse three months ago. The reason cited for this cancellation was an undisclosed illness suffered by Young and others on the tour, as reported by Far Out. Since then, Young has claimed recovery from his symptoms. He is scheduled to appear at Farm Aid on September 21st. The announcement for the renewal of Harvest Moon: A Gathering incites more optimism that the 78-year-old rockstar will continue his work of raising funds for philanthropy through his music.
Young and Stills will be playing individual sets throughout the day of the festival. Additionally, the musical lineup will feature other major performers, including a performance by the marimba ensemble Masanga. Announcements of other artists to be added to the schedule are still pending. Of course, just like in the 2019 edition of the festival, the festivities are anticipated to culminate in Neil Young’s performance of the signature song, “Harvest Moon,” alongside other artists at the festival.
Though the big names will draw fans, crowds at Harvest Moon will be kept in check by the limited availability of tickets. This is a deliberate move by festival organizers, with the stated aim of maintaining an intimate environment. Tickets went on sale last Friday, September 6th, with a starting price of $275, including associated fees. VIP packages are also available for those looking to make the most of their trip. These include amenities such as overnight camp lodging, camp activities, and a gourmet dinner.
