John Prine music at the center of two benefit concerts for tornado relief, Appalachia

The new music year of 2022 will start off by giving back. In doing so, it will call upon the lasting songs and inspiration surrounding one of the region’s most beloved favorite son artists through a pair of benefit concerts staged at one of Lexington’s most prominent live music venues.

The two events are directly related. The first night seeks to help with repair on what 2021 left behind – namely, the damage left by a pack of devastating tornados that tore through Western Kentucky in December. The second will set its eyes and ears to the future by seeking to enforce the goodwill projects in Appalachia and beyond of two organizations.

At the center of it all will be the music of John Prine, which has always found a way – whether through clever whimsy or sobering reality – to offer remarkable insight into humanity. Prine died from COVID-related complications in April 2020, but the impact and popularity of his songs have never waned.

Both performances are being produced by – and presented at – The Burl, which has become the mainstay music venue of the Distillery District. The first, however, brings in the assistance of Prine’s long time indie label, Oh Boy Records. It will kick off 2022 at the club, aptly enough, on Jan. 1. The event’s title: “Music for Paradise: A Benefit for Western KY Tornado Relief.”

The second benefit, “An Old Rodeo: A Tribute to the Life and Songs of John Prine,” takes over on Jan. 2. This is strictly an undertaking by The Burl and Bolo Booking with proceeds benefiting the Hello in There Foundation and the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center.

Several artists will perform at both shows, including Abby Hamilton, Brit Taylor, Brother Smith, Eric Bolander, Grayson Jenkins, Magnolia Boulevard, Nicholas Jamerson, Wolfpen Branch and Wayne Graham.

Performing for “Music for Paradise” only will be Kelsey Waldon, Senora May, Cole Chaney, John R. Miller, Justin Wells, Leah Blevins, Logan Halstead and Scott T. Smith. The lineup playing exclusively for “An Old Rodeo” will feature Adam Chaffins, Charlie Overman, Dalton Mills, David and Teresa Prince, John Clay, Logan Carver, Logan Fox, Nari, Ryan Allen, Ryan Anderson and Sydney Adams.

Prine was not a Kentucky native. He was born in Maywood, Ill. and spent his formative years as a songwriter (and mailman) in Chicago. But much of Prine’s extended family hailed from Western Kentucky, prompting summertime trips there during his youth. One of his more specific destinations was the one-time Muhlenberg County town known as Paradise. Its environmental and physical decimation to encroaching coal companies has been documented and re-told through generations in one of Prine’s earliest, best-known and most often-covered songs, “Paradise.”

Muhlenberg County – specifically the city of Bremen – fell within the wide path of destruction caused by the December tornadoes.

Though many of the artists assembling for “Music for Paradise” hail from Central and Eastern Kentucky, the West will be duly represented by Kelsey Waldon, a Ballard County native who was one of the final artists signed by Prine to Oh Boy Records. The two frequently shared concert bills, including a July 2019 homecoming-of-sorts performance in Central City (located in Muhlenberg County).

Waldon has been a frequent performer at The Burl in recent years as was featured as part of the lineup at Lexington’s inaugural Railbird festival in 2019.

Showtime for “Music for Paradise” will be 5 p.m. Tickets are $50. The event will also be streamed live for $20 (for stream ticket info, go to mandolin.com). Also available are various ticket bundles that include t-shirts and concert posters signed by the participating artists. All proceeds go to the Muhlenberg County Disaster Relief Fund and Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief.

“An Old Rodeo” takes its name from the chorus to another of Prine’s most beloved compositions, “Angel from Montgomery.” Fittingly, one of the beneficiaries of the Jan. 2 program, the Hello in There Foundation, honors yet one more Prine classic, the quietly keen observation of aging and loneliness “Hello in There.” Both songs were part of the songwriter’s self-titled, career-defining debut album, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its release in October.

As self-described on its website, the mission of the Hello in There Foundation (which was formed in the wake of Prine’s passing) is “to identify and collaborate with individuals and communities to offer support for people who are marginalized, discriminated against or, for any reason, are otherwise forgotten.”

Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center is a law firm set up to provide no-cost legal services to coal miners and their families regarding black lung and mine safety issues and (as stated in a mission statement on its website) “to protect the land and people from misuse and degradation caused by extractive industries.”

Showtime is 5 p.m. Tickets are $12.

For further ticket information on either performance, go to theburlky.com.

More ways to help Kentucky tornado relief

As far as storm relief goes, the enlistment of Prine’s legacy won’t be limited to this week’s performances.

Oh Boy Records is also selling a pair of t-shirts and a print emboldened with the chorus lyrics to “Paradise.” Proceeds go to Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief, the Mayfield Community Foundation and the Muhlenberg County Long Term Disaster Recovery Committee.

For ordering information, go to store.johnprine.com.

The most encouraging part of Oh Boy Records’ involvement in Western Kentucky storm relief, though, is that it may be ongoing. A note on the label’s website closes with these words.

“We are staying in touch with our friends in Kentucky, so stay tuned for more ways to help. With love and gratitude, Oh Boy Records and the Prine Family.”