(Cover Photo: Laci Mack)
On October 28, City Winery was the setting for Appalachian Aid, a benefit concert for people living in the tri-state area affected by Hurricane Helene. The idea for the project was born when members of the Kristy Cox and Grasstime, returning home from IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, saw the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. After investigating the situation, they determined that what the area needed most was financial support. They identified the IBMA Trust Fund, established to assist members of the music community experiencing hardship, and Samaritan’s Purse, with headquarters in the area affected.
The team organizing the event contacted J. D. McCorkle at City Winery, who gave the go-ahead. When they reached out to members of the bluegrass community, they got an overwhelming positive response. With only two weeks’ lead time and all hands on deck, the concert plans were set in motion.
On Monday, before a sold-out crowd, Jim Lauderdale and C.J. Lewandowski (Po’ Ramblin’ Boys) acted as emcees, noting that the concert was a mini-festival, with the opportunity to see such a variety of bands and performers.
Airshow, the opening act, more jam band than bluegrass, got the party started with “Water,” singing, “The river’s on the rise.” Other performers selected songs pertinent to theme of the evening. Stephen Mougin sang “Something ‘bout a River,” before moving to a newer song, he said, about optimism, “Chaing Sunsets with You.” Mougin, bass player for the Sam Bush Band, was joined on stage by banjo player Ned Luberecki of Becky Buller Band. The two have performed together in their off season for fifteen years as Nedski and Mojo.
Rebecca Frazier and her band played songs from her recent album release Boarding Windows in Paradise, beginning with “Make Hay While the Moon Shines” and “Cantie Reel,” an original tune by Frazier that showcased the band’s instrumental licks.
Kyle Tuttle, soloing on banjo, opened with a song about being trapped in a Bob Ross painting with all those “happy little trees.” He then set the stage for “a little song about the weather because that’s how we got here,” playing the old-time ballad “The Wind and the Rain.” A moment of spontaneous goodwill occurred when Tuttle began playing an instrumental version of “Lean on Me” and the audience, unprompted began singing along.”
When Kristy Cox and Grasstime took the stage, she shared the band’s experience having to detour through the flood-stricken area less than twenty-four hours after the storm. They played “Good Morning Moon” and, from her latest album, “Some Things Don’t Go Together.” The band also featured guitarist Robbie Morris on lead vocals on “Walls of Time.”
One aspect of the evening characteristic of a festival—or a Nashville bluegrass show—was the mingling of performers. Fiddler Ellie Hakanson played with Frazier, as well in her regular slot with Missy Raines and Allegheny and Grasstime. Raines, Lewandowski, and Lauderdale joined Becky Buller Band on “Jubilee,” the title song from Buller’s recent song cycle album.
John Cowan and Andrea Zonn performed several numbers, including the rousing “Callin’ Baton Rouge” from his days in New Grass Revival. Missy Raines and Allegheny’s set included “Fast-Moving Train” from their recent album.
Lewandowski and Lauderdale introduced IBMA Vocal Group of the Year Authentic Unlimited, only half serious when they said the band had won every category at IBMA but Best Female Vocalist. They also recognized their band member Eli Johnson who lived in hard-hit Hartford, Tennessee. The band played the crowd favorite “Fall in Tennessee,” named Song of the Year in September.
In her set, on mandolin, Sierra Hull played “Boom (Live to Love Again”) and ended with “Best Buy,” a song she says she wrote shortly after getting her driver’s license.
Host Lewandowsky and his band Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, with a couple of new members, played songs from their newly released album “Wanderers Like Me” before the drum roll moment of the evening when Kristy Cox returned to the stage with her band members to extend gratitude to everyone who had supported the effort, including two major sponsors for the evening Sound Biscuit Productions of Servier County, TN, donated a check for $10,000 and C Spire of Nashville donated $20,000.
Lauderdale followed with “I Feel Like Singing Today,” which he wrote for Ralph Stanley and ended with a sing-along “Headed for the Hills.” The all-female powerhouse band Sister Sadie closed out the night. Their first song offered the encouragement, “All Will Be Well.” The emcees recognized Deanie Richardson as IBMA Fiddler of the Year and Jaelee Roberts as Female Vocalist of the Year, and the band closest with “Raleigh’s Ride,” evidence of the band’s instrumental virtuosity.
Throughout the evening, recognizing the sense of community in the bluegrass world, the emcees reminded anyone impacted by the storm of the need for them to reach out for assistance, telling everyone in attendance to hang in there for the long haul.
Click here to contribute to Samaritan’s Purse or IBMA Trust Fund.