(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
More than 1000 fans gathered to Rock for Relief in Atlanta, GA, where Sister Hazel, Cowboy Mouth, Emerson Hart, Michael Tolcher, Gaelic Storm, Theresa Andersson, Ari Hest, Francisco Vidal and Scott Munns performed during the Rock Boat reunion weekend at the Rock For Relief – Hurricane Katrina benefit concert on October 1 at Earthlink Live and Vinyl.
“It was an amazing night of music and the Sister Hazel/Rock Boat community really displayed an unbelievable amount of compassion and caring for the victims…I’m just glad we could all team up to do something special to help,” said Sister Hazel frontman Ken Block.
Raising more than $55,000 from ticket sales, limited edition t-shirt sales, a silent auction, Icehouse beer sales and an AirTran ticket raffle, Rock For Relief was a response to the cancellation of The Rock Boat ’05. The Rock Boat, an annual music festival at sea, was scheduled to depart from New Orleans on September 29. In light of the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster, the multi-day cruise festival had to be canceled. Guests who were booked on the September cruise now have the option to transfer to The Rock Boat VI, which is scheduled to depart from Galveston, TX on January 14.
“I am continuously floored by what a small group of people known as Sixthman and Sister Hazel can accomplish," adds Barbara Dellinger a Rock For Relief attendee. "To pull in a large community of people and have them turn their cruise vacation into a land based fundraiser on a moments notice, and to then raise more than 55 thousand dollars, speaks volumes."
“It was a great weekend and the camaraderie between artists was amazing,” adds Kris Tanner of Sixthman, the event organizers. “During Cowboy Mouth’s set Ken, Ryan and Jett of Hazel, Teresa Andersson, and some of the Gaelic Storm guys got together and performed the Cajun classic “Jockomo” and all the fans sang along. It was inspirational.”
Proceeds from Rock For Relief and other contribution sources will be donated to Americares and PetsMart Charities animal relief fund. Americares is a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization providing immediate response to emergency medical needs, as well as supporting long-term humanitarian assistance programs, for people all around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. PETsMart Charities provides emergency relief funding to assist pets in times of hurricanes, earthquakes, fire and other natural catastrophes.
Icehouse, the presenting sponsor of The Rock Boat, also contributed by donating to Rock For Relief two Fender guitars that were signed by performing bands and auctioned during the concert.
Rock For Relief was sponsored by Icehouse, Avatar, AirTran, and Atlanta’s Dave-FM. Rival Entertainment. Ticket Alternative also donated many of their services to help make the event happen and to allow every dollar raised to go to benefit the victims of the hurricane. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
