Photos: Neil Young, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and More at the Bridge School Benefit
In keeping with the event's tradition, Young invited all of the day's performers on stage for the encore which, this time, was a cover of the Youngbloods' "Get Together." Additional guests included Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, Beck, Norah Jones and Mumford & Sons.
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Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons Plays Neil Young’s Piano and Harmonium
Lovett thanked Young for letting him borrow both his piano and harmonium for the set. Later, Young joined the band on stage for a rendition of his deep cut "Dance, Dance, Dance."
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Dave Matthews, Régine Chassagne, Win Butler, Neil Young, Eddie Vedder and Beck
Young, who hosts the event with his wife Pegi, sat in with many of the musicians throughout the day. They returned the favor for the encore as he led them through a sing-along version of the Youngbloods' "Get Together."
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Pegi and Neil Young
Although he was technically the event’s headliner, Neil Young also served as the surprise opener, inviting his wife to duet with him on a cover of the Youngbloods’ “Get Together.” He vowed that he would return seven hours later to play the same song and he made good on his promise.
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Native American Hoop Dances
The benefit traditionally kicks off with Native American hoop dances.
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Eddie Vedder Performs Songs by Neil Young, the Beatles and Pearl Jam
Vedder invited guests Régine Chassagne of Arcade Fire and Beck to assist on several tracks from his latest release, Ukulele Songs. He also covered Neil Young and the Beatles before reaching into his own Pearl Jam catalog for a couple choice cuts.
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Eddie Vedder and Beck Cover the Everly Brothers
During his solo set, Vedder invited Beck out to perform a cover of the Everly Brothers' "Sleepless Nights." The song also appears on Vedder's current release, Ukulele Songs, and he told the crowd that the two of them first performed it together years ago: "It's nice to be able to do it again."
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Régine Chassagne and Win Butler of Arcade Fire
Régine Chassagne and Win Butler of Arcade Fire perform as part of the 25th Annual Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline Amphitheatre on October 22nd, 2011. Artists are asked to unplug for the event, but going acoustic didn't tone down Arcade Fire's characteristic onstage intensity. "Sorry if we're playing too loud," said Butler sheepishly after a foot-stomping rendition of "Wake Up." Of course, they weren't.
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Neil Young Solo
For his own headlining set, Young was accompanied only by his guitar and harmonica. He frequently had his back to the audience, choosing instead to serenade the Bridge School students.
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Norah Jones Performs with the Little Willies
Jones appeared with her five-piece band, the Little Willies, for a set that was largely based on old-timey music. As the only girl in the group, she explained that the band name was chosen to reflect their beginnings as a Willie Nelson tribute act – and not for any other reason.
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Devendra Banhart
A last-minute addition to this year's lineup, Banhart played a mellow set early on in the evening that really punctuated his newfound maturity as a folk artist. It was his second time performing at the event.
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Beck Revisits His ‘Golden Age’
Beck dusted off material from his acoustic-based 2002 release, Sea Change, especially for the event. After breathtaking renditions of "Golden Age," "Guess I'm Doing Fine" and "Lost Cause," he told the audience that it was the first time in nearly a decade he had the opportunity to perform those songs with the original collaborators from the album.
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All-Star Grand Finale
Before launching into the encore with Richard Reed Parry, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, Régine Chassagne, Win Butler, Eddie Vedder and Beck, Young told the sold-out crowd that there was no reason to cut out early and rush to the parking lot. "It's been 25 years," he joked. "Your car is still there."
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Neil Young and Eddie Vedder Perform A Special Finale
Earlier in the day, when Young performed a cover of the Youngbloods' "Get Together" with his wife, Pegi, he told the audience that he'd play the song again, seven hours later, with all the other musicians. He was right.
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Eddie Vedder Backstage
This year marked Vedder's 10th appearance at the event – he knows many of the Bridge School students by name.
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Backstage With Carlos Santana, Eddie Vedder and Neil Young
Backstage during day two of the concert.
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Carlos Santana and Neil Young Backstage
Carlos Santana performed at the 25th Annual Bridge School Benefit with his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana, as part of Los Invisibles. Backstage, he shares a moment with host, Neil Young.
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Neil Young Turns to Face the Students
Throughout his headlining set, Young frequently had his back to the audience, choosing instead to play directly to the Bridge School students.
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The Foo Fighters
Artists are requested to perform on acoustic instruments – but that doesn't mean they can't rock out.
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Beck’s Family Affair
During Beck's performance, his band sometimes unexpectedly expanded to include his offspring. "I guess my kids are used to me playing music around the house," he explained.
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Marcus Mumford, Dave Matthews, and Ben Lovett
Marcus Mumford, Dave Matthews and Mumford's bandmade Ben Lovett hang backstage. "How do you follow Mumford & Sons?" Matthews asked the crowd on Saturday, when he had to perform shortly after their set. "We'll just do our best and everything."
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‘Get Together’
Young sits in with many of the musicians at the Bridge School concerts and they usually return the favor by joining him for the encore. On Saturday, they all joined in for a cover of the Youngbloods' "Get Together."
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Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder, T Bone Burnett, Richard Reed Parry, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne
Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder, T Bone Burnett, Richard Reed Parry, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne gather to give fans an encore performance.
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Dave Matthews Backstage
Dave Matthews takes time with a young fan backstage. During his set, Matthews thanked the Bridge School students for being "a constant source of inspiration."