By: John Imsdahl

September 26, 2025

This past Saturday, Minneapolis hosted the 40th annual Farm Aid concert, founded by Willie Nelson in 1985 to raise awareness and funds in support of family farms and sustainable agriculture. In addition to Nelson, this year’s headliners included Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, Billy Strings, Kenny Chesney, Wynonna Judd, and more. A last-minute addition to the lineup was Minnesota’s own Bob Dylan.

While it was a thrill to see the famous Hibbing-born bard, it was the Duluth-based bluegrass and Americana band Trampled by Turtles that truly stole the show.

Formed in Duluth in 2003, Trampled by Turtles cut their teeth playing local haunts like Pizza Lucé and the Cabooze. The group’s infectious energy and captivating live performances launched a career that has taken them around the world and to some of the biggest and brightest stages in music.

Led by frontman Dave Simonett, the band took the stage around 3:30 p.m. and immediately had the Minnesota crowd on its feet. Many stayed there for the entirety of their 30-minute set. Cheers erupted through Huntington Bank Stadium as Simonett sang the relatable opening line of “Victory”: “All of us lonely, it ain’t a sin, to want something better than the shape you’re in.” Fiddler Ryan Young brought his signature brand of imaginative playing that has turned heads since he joined the group in 2007.

Known for their dynamic range, Trampled by Turtles dialed it back with their second song, “Quitting Is Rough,” showcasing the vocal harmonies and songwriting chops that have helped send them to the top of the Billboard charts multiple times throughout their career.

For the third song, the crowd was treated to one of their biggest crowd-pleasers: the frenetically fast folk banger “Codeine.” Banjo player Dave Carroll’s picking shone on this classic from the 2005 release “Blue Sky and the Devil.” Tim Saxhaug’s driving bassline anchored the tune while Erik Berry’s mandolin and Eamonn McLain’s cello seamlessly filled out the group’s larger-than-life sound.

The band hit an emotional high point with “Alone,” off the 2012 release “Stars and Satellites.” This track perfectly showcases their ability to take listeners on a musical journey, building from a soft, endearing ballad to a thunderous crescendo of strings and harmonies. Their efforts garnered some of the loudest cheers of the day and would have satisfied even the most ardent fans had it been their final track.

Fortunately, the audience was treated to two more songs. The longtime favorite “Whiskey,” from their debut album “Songs from a Ghost Town,” brought things back into ballad territory and gave the crowd a chance to catch its breath before the band launched into their arguably most famous track, “Wait So Long,” to wrap up the set.

At a festival whose mission is to celebrate family farming and locally grown food, it was especially meaningful to celebrate a locally grown band. Trampled by Turtles have become such a staple of the Minnesota music scene that it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t part of it. Saturday’s performance proved that the group has earned its place alongside music legends like Bob and Willie. It also underscored why they deserve every accolade they’ve collected over their 22-year career.