She’s seen fire. She’s seen (freezing) rain.
But Kristy Librera Chapman remains undaunted in her quest to aid her family and her community.
A cousin to one of the families affected by a tragic Christmas Eve fire in Southwick, Chapman says that she knew she needed to do something about it.
“Since I had been involved in previous benefits, a concert seemed to make the most sense,” she explains. “And I since I was a former member of The Remones — and my fiance is still in it — I knew I had my first act.”
Others including Colossal Groove, Roadhorse, Otan Vargas, and Double Shot swiftly followed suit. But as the original performance date of Feb. 8 drew near, Mother Nature threw a curveball. Well, more like a large snowball layered in ice, steeped in freezing rain, and propelled by high-velocity wind gusts.
When she considered the hardships the intended benefactors of the multi-band bash endured, Chapman says, she knew abandoning the effort was never an option.
“Hopefully, this outpouring of support will provide all of the families involved with a bit of hope for a better future,” she says. “Before the first note is even played, I can say that venue for the rescheduled show — now at Chicopee’s Maximum Capacity this Sunday, March 29 — donated the stage, light and sound for the evening. And in addition to their performances, many of the musicians have also collected raffle prizes.”
Tix for the 3 p.m. Benefit For The Christmas Eve Fire Victims are available at the door and are $10/adults, free/children.
In other acts of altruistic audio … Bugs Bunny has famously gotten himself into some hare-y predicaments by taking an errant left turn at Albuquerque. But Noho’s prodigal daughter Amy Fairchild seems to have taken a right turn toward a high-profile musical fundraiser.
“I was honored to have been involved in the last Right Turn Supergroup show in 2013, and we’re doing it again April 4 under the direction of Gary Hoey,” she explains.
Right Turn is a Boston-based organization that provides intensive outpatient treatment, transitional housing, medication-assisted treatment, and intervention to those in need.
This year’s Supergroup Concert takes place Saturday, April 4 at the Berklee Performance Center with members of The Allman Brothers, Extreme, Boston, Lou Reed, Fairchild and more tackling the works of rockers lost to substance abuse, including Robert Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and Janis Joplin. Tix for this engagement range from $10-$100 and are available at right-turn.org Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Lastly, the Crawler has diligently been trying to gather info on a summer festival that has snared everyone from The Black Crowes and Blues Traveler to John Fogerty in recent years.
“The Vibe tribe has spoken, and we have listened,” owner Ken Hays says of his Gathering of the Vibes festival as it celebrates its 20th year July 28-Aug. 2 at Bridgeport, Conn.’s Seaside Park.
While quick to note that he is “far from finished,” he says early signers-on to the 2015 installment include Ben Harper, Wilco, Weezer, and the Greg Allman Band. A tribute to the Golden Anniversary of the Grateful Dead is also reportedly in the works (Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and his Billy & The Kids are already on the bill).
Yet another confirmed act is Dweezil Zappa and his Zappa Plays Zappa show. But fans who can’t wait ’til summer don’t have to — his show visits the Calvin in Northampton April 8, preceded by a special guitar master class. For info kindly point your browser to iheg.com.•
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.
