Neil Young gives a surprise concert at a protest against tree cutting in Canada

Neil Young has made a surprise return to the stage by performing at a protest in Canada. The singer and environmental activist, 77, sang at a demonstration against tree felling. It’s his first time performing live since 2019. Organizer Torrance Coste tweeted a video of Young performing to a crowd of several hundred on Saturday, saying, “Sometimes you throw a rally and rock legend Neil Young comes along and sings like a surprise. .’

Young postponed a tour in 2019 to work on film projects. He was due to return in 2020, but that plan was disrupted by the pandemic. Saturday’s performance was part of the United For Old-Growth protest promoted by campaign group Wilderness Committee. He sang a selection of his most popular hits, including Comes a Time and Heart of Gold.

The protest was directed against the alleged failure of the Canadian government to protect old-growth forests. It also included a peaceful march and rally. Promotional material for the event said: ‘The purpose of this march and rally is to build broad support for protection against old growth in [British Columbia]. We collect around calls on the [British Columbia New Democratic Party] government to deliver on its old growth promises.”

The organizers added: ‘Everyone is welcome and we ask for mutual respect for everyone who joins this event. Participants are asked to appear in the way they feel called to, from their simple presence to more creative artistic expressions. We ask that space be provided for the elderly and those with mobility needs, and that seats and areas close to the stage be left for those who need them most. This march and rally will take place outdoors, but masks are always a good idea in front of a lot of people – participants are encouraged to wear one.’

In January 2022, Young demanded that Spotify remove all of his music for hosting Joe Rogan’s podcast, which Young alleges shared misinformation about vaccines. In an open letter to his manager and record label saying his catalog should be removed, the Heart of Gold singer writes, “They could have Rogan or Young. Not both.’ In the since-deleted online letter, he specifically targeted comedian and podcaster Rogan, who signed a $100 million deal with Spotify in May 2020 giving them exclusive rights to his show The Joe Rogan Experience. Pictured: Neil Young and his wife Daryl Hannah, photographed in 2018.

With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, JRE [Joe Rogan Experience], hosted exclusively on Spotify, is the world’s largest podcast and has a huge influence,” he wrote. Spotify has a responsibility to curb the spread of disinformation on its platform, although the company does not currently have a disinformation policy. I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform… They may have Rogan or Young. Not both,” Young continued.

Much of his music is no longer on the platform, but some of his hits remain on compilation albums. The singer sold 50 percent of his catalog to British investment fund Hipgnosis Songs last year, reportedly for $150 million. Young has been a proponent of the COVID-19 vaccines in the past, including when he canceled his appearance at the Farm Aid concert in August 2021, citing that the event could be a super spreader for the Delta vaccine at the time variant. Young had previously removed most of his music from Spotify in 2015 due to sound quality issues, but he eventually relented and returned to Spotify in 2016, Rolling Stone reported.

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