Harvest the Hope

On Sept. 27, 2014, two music legends—Neil Young and Willie Nelson—joined forces in opposition to the proposed Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline.

The “Harvest the Hope” concert took place on a patch of farmland near Neligh, Nebraska, that crosses the historic Ponca Tribe “Trail of Tears.” Proceeds benefited BOLD Nebraska, Indigenous Environmental Network and the Cowboy & Indian Alliance to fund the ongoing fight against the Keystone XL pipeline, as well as a number of small, community-based clean energy projects on farms and tribal land.

The concert was made possible by a coalition of Nebraskans—including the Tanderup family—who refused to sell their land to TransCanada for the Keystone XL pipeline.

CONCERT FLICKR GALLERY

 

More than 8,500 people were in attendance for the day-long event, which featured performances from Native American hip-hop artist Frank Waln—performing with traditional hoop dancers The Sampson Brothers—and Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real with special guest Micah Nelson (who just so happen to also be Willie Nelson’s sons). Local Nebraska artists, known as the “Stopping the Pipeline Rocks All-Stars,” were also present, as well as The Bottle Tops, Dr. John Walker, Jack Hotel and McCarthy Trenching.

Leaders of Native American tribes from Nebraska and South Dakota vowed to protect the land, while Neil Young and Willie Nelson spoke about climate change and corporate influence in politics.

On Nov. 6, 2015, the Obama administration rejected the Keystone XL pipeline project, citing economic and environmental concerns. While the Trump administration later took action to permit its completion, the project was officially terminated in June 2021.

HARVEST THE HOPE Concert Poster