Neil Young with Crazy Horse is Set to Rock Tuscaloosa Amphitheater in Season Finale

The legendary Neil Young with Crazy Horse makes a long-awaited return to play the season-ending performance Thursday night at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.

It isn't Young’s first visit to Tuscaloosa, but it has been nearly 40 years since his last appearance here.

In the early '70s, Young released a pair of anti-racism songs, "Alabama" and "Southern Man," that hit on southern racial attitudes and tensions. If not for these songs, there might not have been an inspiration for Lynyrd Skynyrd's signature rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama," which has become the unofficial state song and the slogan that is tagged on our state license plates.

Young, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is touring with Crazy Horse for the first time in almost a decade. The current lineup includes bassist Billy Talbot, drummer Ralph Molina and guitarist-organist Frank "Poncho" Sampedro. The band is touring in support of its recent release, "Americana," with dates scattered across the U.S. and Canada that includes stops at Madison Square Garden in New York and the Hollywood Bowl.

The critically acclaimed band Alabama Shakes, playing its largest Tuscaloosa show to date, is the opening act.

The season finale at the 7,500-seat Amp is set for a 7:30 p.m. start. Young and Crazy Horse are expected to hit the stage around 9 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, ranging in price from $45 to $140. The box office is open beginning at 10 a.m.