How long has it been since you’ve gone out to hear some great local music? Yeah, yeah. I know you used to hit the clubs for a Beru or Hooters show, but what’s happened to you over the past 25 years? If you want to go out but don’t even know what club is good, try The Note in West Chester on March 6 for a bunch of your old favorites and to help out a certain musician—Jim Littmann.
You may not recognize the West Chester native’s name, but if you’ve been out around Chester and Delaware counties in the past couple of decades, it’s likely you’ve heard him play. He has strummed lead guitar, mandolin and dobro, and sung for the Rob Dickenson Band, Good Foot and Get Right. But since December 2010, he’s been hospitalized. In January, he underwent heart surgery. He has no health insurance and is currently facing more than $500,000 in medical bills—which are still rising.
The recently established, Chester County-based Have a Heart Musicians’ Fund is dedicated to local musicians who need financial help with their medical treatments and expenses. The March event is a huge benefit concert for them. Many “name” local bands and musicians—plus some national ones!—have stepped up to take part in what promises to be an amazing day of music.
The entertainment starts at 3 p.m. The lineup includes, but is not limited to:
• Tom McIntyre
• The Walking Sticks
• Billy Freeze and Steve Smith
• Tommy Stinson of the Replacements, Soul Asylum and Guns N’ Roses, with (my husband!) Chip Roberts on guitar, Emily Roberts and George Manney
• E.B. Hawkins Band, featuring Jordyn, Billy Burger, Geri Smith and Lucky Brown
• John Lilley Project
• Rob Perna and the New Kings of Rhythm
• Beru Revue
The event is for ages 21 and up. The Note has a 350-plus capacity, and I expect a big turnout! I will emcee with musician/event organizer Rob Dickenson and my friend/coworker-of-sorts, WMMR’s Pierre Robert.
In addition to the constant onstage performances, there will be raffles, a merchandise table with CDs and T-shirts from many of the artists at the show, and a silent auction of music memorabilia, custom and autographed guitars, local art, books by local authors, gift certificates and more. Thanks in advance to the Note for donating some of the proceeds from their beer sales to the fund!
It’s a sad but true fact that the performers who bring us so much joy often don’t have any fallback plan if they become ill. Huge medical expenses for necessary procedures mount with no way to pay them back. Benefit concerts provide a way to help and have fun. Please join us for a great day of music! I’ll be looking for you!
SHOW INFO
Where: The Note, 142 E. Market St., West Chester, thenotewc.com.
When: March 6, 2-11 p.m.
Tickets: $20 at the door.
More information: Call Rob Dickenson at (610) 793-2985, or visit the Facebook page of the Benefit Show for the Have a Heart Musicians’ Fund, where you can also make a secure donation.
