Not this side of the pond as it were, we’ve got Steps to co-ordinate our charity gigs and I know who I’d rather have (I suspect you might do too). Leaving you this weekend dear reader with news that Steve Earle has announced the lineup for his John Henry’s Friends benefit show which he hosts annually, taking place this year on December 3rd in New York. RS Country reports more on it: “The concert, which raises funds for children with autism, will feature Earle and his long-running band the Dukes, as well as sets by Warren Haynes, the Mastersons, and Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, offering a rare intimate duo performance. Earle just opened for the latter during the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s annual Beacon Theatre run in New York on October 9th.
Approaching its fourth straight year, John Henry’s Friends is named after Earle’s autistic son with Allison Moorer and ticket proceeds from the event specifically benefit the Keswell School, the educational learning center for children and young adults with autism that John Henry attends. Back in May, Earle told Rolling Stone: “I have friends that come to see John Henry because it makes them feel better because he’s just kind of all love. He’s my favorite person to hang out with at this point in my life.”
Many of Earle’s musical friends have come forward to help with the benefit show. In year’s past the event has featured Graham Nash, Shawn Colvin and Emmylou Harris. Next week Earle and the three aforementioned artists, along with Jackson Browne, will all perform select dates on the Lantern Tour: Concerts for Migrant and Refugee Families, a series of shows protesting the Trump administration’s family separation policies and calling for the safe harbor of those seeking refuge at the U.S. border.
Also, in November Earle will resume his Copperhead Road 30th Anniversary Tour, which features Earle and the Dukes performing the landmark country-rock album, released in October 1988, in its entirety.” If you can’t attend any of those dates, congratulate yourself on being nice to the environment (unless you plan to walk there) and console yourself with this clip from last year’s benefit show. Have a good weekend.
