Kentucky Musicians Raise Over $10K For Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

Read on for details about The Burl's star-studded Oct. 15 benefit concert, other recovery shows, and how you can help.

Oct 21, 2024

Ever since floodwaters swept through Georgia, Eastern Tennessee, and Western North Carolina I’ve had a hard time taking my mind off of the destruction that it left behind.

The region, Asheville in particular, has been a haven for me in recent years and a place I’m glad to have many friends and colleagues from. While most everyone I know there personally didn’t suffer more than a few inches of water in their basements (or damaged momentos inside storage units), it breaks my heart hearing all the stories of countless others who weren’t as fortunate, which unfortunately continue coming out by the day.

The same can be said for Magnolia Boulevard singer Maggie Noëlle, who grew up in Southwest Virginia before spending time in her late teens and early 20’s in Asheville, a place where first found community through music and learned to break through her stage fright. She was one of several Kentucky musicians to come together in support of Hurricane Helene victims during an Oct. 15 benefit concert at The Burl in Lexington.

“They pushed me to sing my original tunes around late night fire jams, inspired me to go to open mic nights, and have continued to support me throughout my music career,” says Noëlle, who performed as a trio at Tuesday’s show alongside bandmates Ryan Allen and Roddy Puckett. “My heart is broken for all the folks effected by this tragedy — not only in Asheville, but all of Western North Carolina, East Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia. I’ve felt helpless knowing this devastation has created so much hardship for so many folks… I just wish there was more I could do.”

Another powerful voice with strong ties to the Tar Heel State on display at Tuesday’s benefit was Justin Wells, whose two song set halfway through the night included a rendition of “Sad, Tomorrow” from his forthcoming solo record along with a cover of Ryan Adams’ “Oh My Sweet Carolina.” The combination of his mamaw and her relatives originating from nearby High Point, NC to one of his daughter’s middle names being “Carolina” (a reference to the aforementioned Adams’ song) and already understanding the full depth of a hurricane’s destruction from living in Louisiana prior to settling down in Lexington has left him feeling the full pain of those suffering from Helene right now, something you could hear in each aching note of his brief performance.

“I've been playing shows in the state for a decade and a half, and I've often said if somebody could dislodge me from Kentucky, North Carolina would make for a close second as a home,” says Wells. “These people are fellow Appalachians, fellow Americans, fellow humans. They deserve every bit of love and support we can send their way.”

While it’s hard to really compare the level of destruction the region has seen in the wake of Hurricane Helene to anyone else, its aftermath immediately gave me flashbacks to the record flooding that engulfed much of Eastern Kentucky, first in March 2021 and again in July 2022. The first occasion hit especially close to home, with portions of the Estill County hamlet Irvine — just 15 minutes from my house —and its surrounding hollers going underwater.

In the days that followed I remember hearing similar stories to the ones coming out of the path carved by Helene now — folks with roads to their homes washed out with nowhere to go, family members unaccounted for, livelihoods destroyed, and wondering where and how to move on from here. But the most sobering experience came when I joined a group to clear out a nearby home and saw the destruction first hand — a complete and total loss of possessions, minus a few framed pictures and other miscellaneous items.

Although numbed by the muddy mess left behind, the day was also a heartwarming one that reminded me how, despite all of our differences in thought and opinion, communities can come together in amazing ways during times of strife. In a way that’s also what has made watching the fallout from Hurricane Helene from afar so hard. I want to be there, I want to help my friends and those in need, but I also know that there’s people far more experienced and better equipped than me to be there right now helping rescue people and rebuild. That’s where Tuesday’s “Blue Ridge Benefit” concert came in.

Featuring a who’s who lineup of Kentucky acts like Bendigo Fletcher, Abby Hamilton, Candi Jenkins, Justin Wells, Magnolia Boulevard, and Brother Smith, the show wound up raising $10,050 for Beloved Asheville according to Burl co-owner Will Harvey. While the amount raised is far from enough to rebuild the communities wiped out by Helene, it’s also far from insignificant and proof of the power that music plays in bringing people together to be a force for good.

That feeling also wasn’t lost on Aaron Smith during Tuesday’s concert, who made note of this dilemma prior to tearing into the songs “Daddy Long Legs” and “S.S. Good Time Cruise Line” with Brother Smith, the band he’s joined in by brother Wesley Smith and bassist Tyler Young.

“I think it’s hard to know how we can help in times like these, especially as musicians. We play shows and sing songs. So when there’s a time to do that and raise funds for those in need, it’s really the best way for us to do our part,” says Smith.

It also wasn’t evading the thoughts of Bendigo Fletcher’s Ryan Anderson, who first broke the news of the benefit raising over $10K prior to debuting a new song about water that touches on the many ways it nourishes life and the others like Hurricane Helene that destroy it.

“It was a reminder of the power in people coming together and sharing both joy and grief in a time of dire need,” says Anderson, whose set also included fan favorites like ‘Sugar In The Creek.’ “The funds we all were able to raise are significant, and the expression of compassion through music from states away even more-so. The hope is that the storm victims feel that support and that collective faith in their communities right now. Hurricane Helene will unfortunately be part of our history, but so will these nights of togetherness that are taking place for recovery in Asheville and other mountain communities that are so inspiring to us as artists and people.”

Despite being advertised as a trio set, the entirety of the Louisville based band — Andrew Shupert (backing vocals, lead guitar), Evan Wagner (backing vocals, keys, guitar, auxiliary percussion), Conner Powell (bass), and Chris Weis (drums) — joined Anderson for the de facto practice, and a damn good one at that, prior to kicking off a tour the next night in Cleveland, Oh.

The same could be said for Abby Hamilton, who followed Bendigo to close out the night. Fresh off a run of dates supporting Carolina rockers American Aquarium and a return to The Moonshiner’s Ball, the Jessamine County born singer whose set was advertised as a three piece turned into a full band affair as she lit up the room with songs like “Whatever Helps You Sleep,” an electrifying banger taken to the next level by her brother Zachary’s ferocious guitar playing. In addition to her appearance at Tuesday’s benefit, Hamilton has also been donating 25% of her merch sales from recent shows to Beloved Asheville.

Other standouts from the show included a show opening, spoon-tastic performance from Tim Lancaster, the John Prine-esque humor of Charlie Overman, the sold soul storytelling of Hunter Flynn, and the polished twang of Candi Jenkins. Of those it was Jenkins, better known as Katie Toupin, who wowed me the most. Joined by her father on acoustic guitar and harmonica in place of her usually counterparts in Irvine, Ky'.’s Jenkins Twins, Candi commanded the crowd with her crisp vocals and vivid narratives on tunes like “God Don’t Care” and “Fayette County” that illustrated both her seasoned approach to fresh take on Kentucky country music.

Witnessing the mix of talent and good will on stage Tuesday night, along with all the other gestures of support from Kentucky for our Appalachian neighbors currently grieving has given me hope that even though the recovery process is sure to be long, that their journeys to get their will not be forgotten.

As Noëlle says, even though they’re a state or more away, they’re still our Appalachian neighbors. They helped us during the recent Eastern Kentucky flooding, and now its our time to step up and do the same for them.

“I’m so very honored to be from Appalachia and to have had the opportunity to play this benefit show, confides Noëlle. “The sense of community still remains strong. We are strong, we love our neighbors, and we protect our own. I’m extremely blessed to help bring light to this situation. It’s incredibly inspiring that our music has the power to serve humanity for the greater good.”

You Got Gold

“You Got Gold,” a celebration of all things John Prine in Nashville from Oct. 9-12, has announced that this year’s event, through its Hello In There Foundation, raised roughly $300,000 for Hurricane Helene relief. The gathering featured events at places like the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Basement East that included appearances from Kentucky-born artists like S.G. Goodman and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Sturgill Simpson

After cancelling his Oct. 21 show in Asheville following the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene, Sturgill Simpson has added a show at Cary, NC’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre the same night as part of his “Why Not?” tour, joining a previously scheduled show at the same venue the following night. All proceeds benefit the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.

Concert For Carolina

After originally being scheduled to play at Lexington’s Rupp Arena on Oct. 26, The Avett Brothers last week announced the postponement of the show until April 25, 2025 after being added to the “Concert For Carolina” taking place in Charlotte, NC on the same night. Other performers at the benefit include Luke Combs, Eric Church, Billy Strings, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, and more. Details including how to livestream the show can be found at ConcertForCarolina.com.

Appalachian Allies: A Benefit For East Tennessee Hurricane Relief

Master songwriter and London-born singer Darrell Scott (“You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive”) will perform at the Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville, TN on Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. with Adeem The Artist, Andy Wood, Jerry Douglass, Larkin Poe, R.B. Morris, and Sarah Jarosz. All proceeds benefit the East Tennessee.

Kentucky Music News: October 14-20

Coinciding with last week’s “You Got Gold” festivities in Nashville, the Muhlenberg County Music Museum in Central City, Ky. opened its official John Prine exhibit on Oct. 12. Muhlenberg County is famously name-dropped in Prine’s song “Paradise” that has since gone on to become one of his most timeless hits, both in and outside of the Commonwealth.
Muhlenberg County native Benjamin Tod — also the lead singer for Lost Dog Street Band — released his solo album, Shooting Star, on Oct. 18. The record, on which each song is meant to represent a different era of country music’s past, was instrumental in inspiring the reformation of Lost Dog and it’s album, Survived, released this past spring.
Lexingtonian Nolan Taylor on Oct. 18 dropped “Holding On,” the R&B leaning lead track from his on-the-way debut album. Taylor hits the road this week out west in support of Lost Dog Street Band and is expected to release another single next month.
Murray, Ky.’s Melanie A. Davis, who first popped onto my radar in May after a performance at Nicholas Jamerson’s Sleeping In The Woods Songwriter Festival, last week unveiled “Tinseltown,” the shimmering first single from her forthcoming album, Noctalgia, out Nov. 15.

Do you have Kentucky music-related concert listings or news to share? Email it to mattwickstrom@wickspicks.com for potential inclusion in this newsletter.

Kentucky Live Music Menu: October 21-27

JD Clayton w/Leon Majcen @ The Burl, Lexington. Oct. 24 @ 8 p.m. TheBurlKy.com.
Little Feat w/The Travelin McCourys @ The Louisville Palace. Oct. 24 @ 8 p.m. LouisvillePalace.com.
Wes Shipp w/Nic Cassetta @ Chenault Vineyards, Richmond. Oct. 25 @ 6 p.m. Facebook.com.
Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle w/Eric Bolander and Joe’s Truck Stop @ The Southgate House, Covington. Oct. 25 @ 8 p.m. SouthgateHouse.com.
The Kentucky Headhunters @ Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon. Oct. 25 @ 8 p.m. RenfroValley.com.
Kentucky Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony feat. Sturgill Simpson, Gary Stewart, Black Stone Cherry, and more @ Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon. Oct. 26 @ 7 p.m. RenfroValley.com.
Dan Tyminski Band w/Hancock & Shouse @ The Grove, Glasgow. Oct. 26 @ 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET. TheGroveGlasgow.com.
Laid Back Country Picker w/Shelby Lore and Corduroy Brown @ The Pit House, Slade. Oct. 26 @ 8 p.m. Eventbrite.com.
Red Shahan @ The Whirling Tiger, Louisville. Oct. 26 @ 8 p.m. TheWhirlingTiger.com.
Summer Dean w/The Crisp Brothers @ The Southgate House, Covington. Oct. 26 @ 8 p.m. SouthgateHouse.com.
The Tillers w/The Montvales @ Rebel Rebel Studio & Lounge, Berea. Oct. 27 @ 7 p.m. RebelRebelBerea.com.
Deer Tick w/Justin & The Cosmics @ The Burl, Lexington. Oct. 27 @ 8 p.m. TheBurlKy.com.

Wick’s Picks on Hound FM

This Wednesday, Oct. 23, I’ll welcome Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum Executive Director, Jessica Blankenship, to my radio show from 7-8 p.m. ET to talk about this year’s induction class set to be enshrined on Oct. 26, her favorite items in the museum’s collection, other events produced by the HOF, and more.

Tune in at 96.1 The Hound (in Central Kentucky), online at HoundFM.com or on The Hound mobile app. You can also listen to an archive of episodes at the previously mentioned website along with Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Future Radio Guests (Through End Of 2024)

10/30 Melanie A. Davis
11/6 Jordan Lee King
11/13 Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle
11/20 Katie Toupin/Candi Jenkins
11/27 TBA
12/4 TBA
12/11 Nicholas Jamerson
12/18 The Local Honeys
12/25 Best of 2024

Until Next Time!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and support this experiment of mine. With this being a new venture, I’m eager to hear any and all feedback, so don’t hesitate on letting me know what you’d like to see more of moving forward in the comments below.

This week I’ll be making a trip to Nashville to catch up-and-coming Texan Dylan Gossett’s debut at the Ryman along with covering Saturday’s Kentucky Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Renfro Valley, which includes everyone from Sturgill Simpson to Gary Stewart. The latter will be the focal point of next week’s newsletter, with a full recap full of quotes and other interesting nuggets a guarantee.

Make sure to subscribe for free now to not miss any updates. If you’re interested and in a position to do so, I’d also be incredibly grateful to anyone who could make small donations in support of my work here, but it’s by no means expected.

No matter what, thank you for reading this far and for supporting our homegrown music scene. Until next time, y’all take care and long live Kentucky music!

Best,
Matt