8:45 p.m.:

John Mellencamp is on stage now, working his way through what strikes me as a fairly pedestrian set. I guess I am just not a big fan of his. Used to be, but I lost interest a few years ago. My reaction watching his set is that I've seen it all before. Same songs, same arrangements, same sound.

I'm grooving with it, and my leg is pumping with the music. But I'm also checking the time on my cell phone and wondering how long before Neil Young comes out on stage.

7:30 p.m.:

We're in the high-gear mode now. Dave Matthews just began his set, with accompaniment from Tim Reynolds. Matthews is the first of the big final four, each of whom will get the better part of an hour to perform.

They're running a little behind schedule, but John Mellencamp is supposed to go on at 8, Neil Young at 9 and then Willie Nelson at 10 to close to the show.

Nelson helped Chesney close his set, sitting in on two songs.

It's been a long day. With the sun down now, the ugliness of a day of drinking is beginning to show among many in the crowd. In my most recent pass through the GA portion of the venue I witnessed -- not by choice, but because it was impossible to avoid -- dozens of people, men and women both, relieving themselves in the bushes. One guy needed medical attention, because he got his face bashed in during a fight.

My impression is that this is a fiesty crowd, and it's not a pretty sight. At least, not where I was hanging out. I imagine things are in better control down in the reserved seats. I hope so, anyway.

6:30 p.m.:

Kenny Chesney is about to go on stage, and the crowd is roaring. Anyone who thinks New England is not a fertile turf for country music should think again.

But the purpose of this entry is to pass along this interesting tidbit: Grace Potter just did a quick media session with Anne and Jack Lazor of Butterworks Farm in Vermont. The Lazors operate a self-sufficient dairy operation that specializes in yogurt.

Potter, who is from Vermont, said she grew up on Butterworks yogurt. She used to save the yogurt containers and then use them for her art projects.

The interchange was neat, because for once, amid all the well-intentioned rhetoric of the day, we got a glimpse of an artist/performer whose life truly was influenced and affected by a community farmer.

Nice touch.

5:15 p.m.:

"Well, I guess he's still alive," the guy standing next to me just remarked, as rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis made his way to his piano bench.

Alive and kicking, for sure. His voice may be a little ragged, but Lewis still can rock a tune on the piano. I would say that his set, still ongoing, is the early-show highlight. Because he represents a definition of legend, it's a treat to have a chance to see him perform. Lewis turns 73 later this month, which makes him two years younger than Willie Nelson.

Lewis followed Jakob Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels. Dylan made a veiled reference to his father, when he said, "Like a lot of you, I was at the first Farm Aid. It's nice to come full circle and be a performer."

Dylan's father, Bob, planted the seed for the first Farm Aid, suggesting at Live Aid that maybe it would be a good idea to raise money for people in America for a change. Dylan played at that first concert, and presumably Jakob accompanied him.

Lewis is just finishing up "Whole Lotta Shaking Going On," and he's getting a standing-O as he breezes into "Great Balls of Fire."

4:15 P.M.:

Among the many impressive aspects of today's Farm Aid concert is the fact that all the food being sold on site is locally and regionally grown. It's all organic, which we are told is a major accomplishment, given the fact that 20,000 people are expected to attend.

Among those selling beer is Jon Cadoux, founder and president of Peak Organic Brewing Co., a Portland-based brewery.

Cadoux is thrilled to be involved with Farm Aid.

"We have a passion for sustainable agriculture and supporting family farms, and that's what Farm Aid is all about," he said.

Willie Nelson just introduced the band Nation Beat, and they are now dueting on "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain." Collaborations of mismatched musicians rarely work, but this one is pretty cool.

This place is filling up, and the weather is cooling off. It was really hot here this afternoon -- relatively speaking. But with the sun heading down, people who showed up in T-shirts and shorts might be regretting that decision.

OK, this is cool. Nation Beat just launched into a very fast and furious version of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," with Willie providing some vocals and guitar.

I think we're in for a fun night.

3:30 p.m.

Steve Earle just came on stage, with guitar and harmonica. From my vantage point high up on the lawn, it's hard to see many details. But he's looking fairly trim, relatively speaking. And he sounds great, as usual.

The sightlines here are awful from the lawn, but the sound is terrific.

Too bad, but his scheduled appearance earlier this summer in Blue Hill for the Shangri-La Music Festival got rained out. We're still waiting for him to reschedule.

2:40

It's time for a moe.-down. The band moe., ever popular in Maine and still holding the key to the City of Portland from the band's appearance there earlier this summer, has just come on stage.

They're doing a terrific job amping up the energy. In tandem with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, who just finished up their brief set, things have picked up quite a bit.

moe. is in the midst of a long jam right here, with Rob Derhak -- who lives in Falmouth -- holding down the low end. The band has wanted to do Farm Aid for some time, and this is the first year concert organizers added them to the bill.

Good call. Moe. has done a nice job of getting people out of the wings and back into their seats. Arlo Guthrie is up next, and then Steve Earle.

2:15 p.m.

Things are starting to pick up. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals just began their set, and Arlo Guthrie is on tap. After that, we are told that moe. will be making an appearance.

1:35 p.m.

The most interesting sight so far: Paul English, Willie Nelson's loyal drummer and Farm Aid board member, walking among the grounds, watching a New Orleans-style street band perform near the concessions area. He was all smiles.

The nature of these big benefit events is that they begin with the issues, and evolve slowly toward being all about the music. The first few hours feature some very good bands that few people know much about. They play to mostly empty seats, but serve the purpose of filling time for those who do arrive early and getting them to think about music.

By late afternoon, the big-draw acts will begin showing up on stage and the house will fill up. But for now, it's mostly people stretching out on a sun-drenched law, soaking up the last rays of summer.

1:04

The first act has begun. Danielle Evin has the unenviable task of opening this massive show. Willie Nelson just introduced her to a mostly empty Comcast Center. But no worry. She is singing and playing as if to a full house.

If you want to watch live, the 101 Network on DirecTV will broadcast beginning at 4 p.m. The show also will be carried live at www.farmaid.org.

12:48

The music hasn't begun yet, but we are under way here in Mansfield, Mass. The opening press conference just concluded, with comments from the Mount Rushmore of Farm Aid -- Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews.

The tone was pretty upbeat, despite what they described as dire circumstances facing the farm community. Mellencamp called it disheartening that so many people ask him why Farm Aid still exists, 23 years after its founding.

"Isn't that problem solved?" they ask.

No way, he said.

Since 1970, 300,000 family farmers have left the business; four companies now control 80 percent of the beef and cattle market; five packing companies control 55 percent of the hog market; and 1 million acres are lost each year to urban sprawl.

"That's why we're still doing Farm Aid," he said.

Nelson talked about the importance of the family farms in America's economic structure, calling them the bottom rung of the economic ladder. When the bottom rung fails, everything collapses on top of it.

Matthews said the family farm is an important element in restoring the ecological health of the planet. Corporate farming, with its focus on mass production at minimal cost, harms the earth. Family farmers tend to take better care of the land, he said.

"The family farmers and the small farmers will save the planet," he said.

Finally, Young talked about how Farm Aid has changed over the past 20-plus years. When it began, the idea was to help farmers who were losing their land. Today, the mission has shifted to helping sustain the family farmers who remain.

That effort reflects the growth of the organic and eat-local movement, he said.

Farm Aid is no longer about solving the farm crisis, but helping to inform people about the importance of the family farmer in America's economic and cultural health. "We're at a place where demand for organic and good food is skyrocketing," he said. "What we're trying to do now is help."

---

It's a gorgeous morning in Massachusetts. There are some clouds, but mostly blue skies and a warming sun. It should be a good day.

I just arrived and picked up my media credentials. No star sightings yet, just a bunch of people running around with walkie-talkies gearing up for the day.

The first press conference is set for an hour from now. I plan to update the blog when it concludes, with comments from the principals stars -- Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews -- as well as regional farmers.

It's very clear that the message of Farm Aid is eat local. The first sign I saw when I entered the grounds said, "Eat Your Zip Code."

Tune in throughout the day, and I will do my best to update with the freshest and most interesting new information that comes our way.

Meanwhile, enjoy your lunch (or breakfast).