Musicians band together with benefit concerts, supplies for Kentucky tornado relief
Following the May 16 tornadoes that swept through Russell, Pulaski and Laurel counties support has flooded in from all corners of the state and beyond, including from the local music community.
Similar to the response to the March 2021 floods that ravaged Eastern Kentucky, groups are doing everything from organizing supply drops to throwing benefit concerts to raise funds for those in need and — in some cases — even getting their hands dirty too.
On May 24, a contingent from the Laurel Cove Music Festival led by Bell County Tourism Director Jon Grace assisted residents of the Finley Trailer Park with cleaning up debris, repairing trailers and even fixing a man’s dog fence.
“The scene was absolutely heartbreaking. I’ve seen tornado damage before, but nothing like this,” described Grace. “Some of the stories we heard were gut wrenching, but more than anything there was an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Folks are just thankful to be alive, even people whose houses had been completely leveled to the foundation. They were also grateful for the help. It was a sea of folks working like a beehive trying to restore a community.”
Other nearby entities like the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Mount Vernon have been a hub for gathering supplies like cleaning equipment, boxes, gloves, and rakes — but not clothing — ever since the storms cleared out. Additionally, the Hall is also partnering with London’s Mountain Sound Guitar Works to receive donations of instruments to give to folks who lost theirs in the storms.
However, most of the olive branches extended to those affected by the tornadoes from the creative community will come from doing what they do best — making music.
Here are details on several of those shows and how you can support relief efforts while getting to boot scootin’ boogie to some of your favorite tunes.
606 Strong Tornado Relief Benefit In Somerset
When: May 27 at 7 p.m.
Where: 214 E Mount Vernon St, Somerset
Tickets: $25.86 (plus fees), Eventbrite.com
Somerset was one of the hardest hit areas by the recent tornadoes, and the music community there is responding in kind with a benefit show of epic proportions. Taking over the Virginia Theatre in the city’s downtown on May 27 will be Prestonsburg duo Sundy Best and Somerset’s own Hunter Flynn, Cody Lee Meece, Spooky Fox and Tyler Miniard. London’s Jordan Allen and Laurel Lewis round out the bill, of which all proceeds will benefit the United Way of South Central Kentucky and the United Way of Laurel County.
“I’m honored for the opportunity to play a small part in the fundraising efforts to help rebuild the community that raised me and has been so supportive of my art,” states Flynn. “We may not be able to bring their homes or businesses or their loved ones back, but we can gather, sing songs together, and help each other back up.”
Jo Dee Messina In Mount Vernon
When: May 30 at 8 p.m.
Where: 2380 Richmond St, Mount Vernon
Tickets: From $46.30, RenfroValley.com
Country music singer Jo Dee Messina — best known for hits like “Heads Carolina, Tails California” and “Lesson In Leavin’” — was already slated to perform at Renfro Valley prior to the tornadoes, but has pivoted to incorporate relief elements in its wake. That includes plans to not only have a semi-truck on-site to load with supplies, but also to give out tickets for the May 30 concert to first responders and others affected by the storms through a partnership with Kentucky State Police.
“People have been dealing with a lot,” Messina said in a news release. “We just want to give them a night to be together to let first responders know they are appreciated and victims know they are not alone. Hopefully this will give everyone involved a chance to come out from under the heaviness that’s been surrounding them since the storms.”
Banding Together: A Tornado Benefit Relief Concert
When: May 31 and June 1 at 12 p.m. daily
Where: 575 E Hal Rogers Pkwy, London
Tickets: NA
Similar to Jo Dee Messina at Renfro Valley, Wildcat Harley Davidson in London will have a trailer on-site to stuff with materials during a two day benefit concert on its property on May 31 and June 1. Bands performing during the two-day event include The Blue Crawdads, Threez Enuff, Tone Control, Midlife Crisis, Cadillac Tractor, Silhouette, and the Verlan Brock Band.
Halfway To Hazard Concert In Corbin
When: May 31 at 6 p.m.
Where: 4672 Fifth St Rd, Corbin
Tickets: $25, Facebook.com
Corbin-based music venue The Train Station will host a tornado benefit during its May 31 concert featuring country duo Halfway To Hazard, Anthony Smith, Nathan Coots, and Brock Burton & The No Handshakes Band. All proceeds will go to The Y’all Squad, a non-profit organization committed to providing immediate relief to communities affected by natural disasters.
According to Train Station General Manager Michelle Eidschun, they were glued to the forecasts provided by one of its members — Eastern Kentucky based Youtuber and weather analyst Ryan Hall — who helped to keep their staff and performing musicians safe on the night of the storms.
“Watching him helped us make certain our musicians didn’t leave when they had planned to,” recalls Eidschun. “Had they left then, they would have been right in that tornado.”
London Strong Benefit Concerts
When: June 6 at 7 p.m. and June 21 at 2 p.m.
Where: 500 N Main St, London
Tickets: Free, Facebook.com
Lastly, the City of London’s Summer Concert Series will see two of it’s upcoming concerts — June 6 with LIT and Sneaky Pete and June 21 with Lee Newton, The Creekers, Paint Creek, County Wide, Pistol Whip, Andrew Moore & Hooch and Sneaky Pete (again) — reimagined as London Strong benefit concerts. Both shows will benefit the United Way of Laurel County’s Long-Term Disaster Relief Fund.