Neil Young Joins Willie Nelson for ‘Real Cowboys’ Duet at Bridgeport Co-Headline Show

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts kicked off a co-headlining run with Willie Nelson & Family on September 22, 2026, at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Connecticut. During Nelson’s portion of the night, Young stepped out to sing “Are There Any More Real Cowboys?” alongside him, a duet the two artists have long shared.

• The show took place at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on September 22, 2026.
• Willie Nelson, 93, played a 21-song set; Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, with Young now 80, followed with 12 songs.
• Two songs from Young’s new album “Second Song,” released September 18, 2026, made their live debut: “Casting Me Away From You” and “Earth Girl.”
• The Chrome Hearts’ lineup for the run includes Micah Nelson on guitar, Spooner Oldham on keys, Corey McCormick on bass and Anthony LoGerfo on drums.
• Additional co-headline dates follow on September 24 in Philadelphia and September 26 at Farm Aid 2026.

What Happened When Neil Young Joined Willie Nelson Onstage

“Are There Any More Real Cowboys?” is a song Young wrote with Nelson on vocals alongside him. Most accounts of the song’s origin point to Young’s 1985 album “Old Ways,” though at least one outlet has referenced 1993 as the release year for the track. Nelson brought Young out for the number late in his own set, ahead of Young’s headlining turn with The Chrome Hearts later in the evening.

Willie Nelson’s Bridgeport Setlist

1. Whiskey River
2. Stay a Little Longer
3. Still Is Still Moving to Me
4. Bloody Mary Morning
5. I Never Cared for You
6. Die When I’m High (Halfway to Heaven)
7. Workin’ Man Blues
8. Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
9. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
10. On the Road Again
11. You Were Always on My Mind
12. Good Hearted Woman
13. Georgia on My Mind
14. Help Me Make It Through the Night
15. Everything Is Bullshit
16. Last Leaf
17. Are There Any More Real Cowboys? (with Neil Young)
18. I Thought About You, Lord
19. Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
20. I’ll Fly Away (with Ty Myers)
21. I Saw the Light (instrumental snippet)

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts’ Bridgeport Setlist

Young and his band opened with three of his older songs before turning to new material from “Second Song.” The set closed on a reworked, full-band take of “After the Gold Rush,” followed by an encore that brought back a song Young had not played since 2014.

1. Long May You Run
2. Human Highway
3. Comes a Time
4. Casting Me Away From You (live debut)
5. Earth Girl (live debut)
6. Old Man
7. Heart of Gold
8. Daddy Went Walkin’
9. Harvest Moon
10. After the Gold Rush (new full-band arrangement)

Encore:

1. Living with War (new acoustic arrangement, first performance since August 8, 2014)
2. Rockin’ in the Free World

Neil Young Rips Guitar Strings During ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’

During the closing song, Young broke several guitar strings while the crowd chanted “Take America Back!” Footage of the moment was captured by Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman.

Neil Young’s Canceled European Tour

Young and The Chrome Hearts had scrapped a planned summer 2026 European tour back in February. At the time, Young told fans, “Everything is OK. Just needed a break. Listening to my body.”

Upcoming Neil Young and Willie Nelson Tour Dates

• September 24, 2026: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann
• September 26, 2026: Virginia Beach, Virginia, Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater (Farm Aid 2026)

More Info

• Neil Young Rips Guitar Strings While Chanting Take America Back! at Show with Willie Nelson: Watch | Consequence
• Neil Young Returns to the Stage with The Chrome Hearts, Joins Willie Nelson in Bridgeport | Relix
• Neil Young Willie Nelson Perform Together In Connecticut | JamBase
• Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts make live return in Connecticut: Heres the setlist in full | Far Out Magazine