GRAND RAPIDS — Local organizers Tasha and Andy Klockow and musician McKeon Hugh Roberts joined Headwaters ahead of the Save the Boundary Waters benefit concert, Saturday, Jan. 31, all day at Klockow Brewing in Grand Rapids.
The idea for the concert and benefit came together quickly after news broke that the U.S. House passed a resolution seeking to overturn a 20-year ban on mining in the Rainy River Watershed shared by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
“I sent a text out to Kelly [Erickson] and McKeon, and was like, can we do a benefit concert soon for the Boundary Waters?'" Tasha Klockow said. "And they're both like, 'Well, how about this coming weekend?'"
What followed was an overwhelming show of support from their networks and community. Musicians, businesses and community members stepped up almost immediately, transforming the event into an all-day, full-scale fundraiser with live music, a silent auction and direct opportunities to support Save the Boundary Waters.
“We reached out to our networks, and everyone wanted to help,” Klockow said. “It became massive very quickly.”
Andy Klockow said the speed at which the lineup came together speaks to how ready people are to act.
"Everyone is ready to do something positive ... and put our energy in that way."
The benefit concert will feature a lineup of regional and local musicians, starting at 12:30 p.m.
One of the most anticipated sets comes from Austin Lunn, the Ely-based musician best known for his black metal band, Panopticon. He will be performing a rare solo, country-soul set. Andy, his Panopticon bandmate, will be joining him on stage. Lunn has been very involved in fundraising efforts to protect the Boundary Waters, and word of his participation has already drawn attention.
“We also have it on good authority that there's going to be some folks flying in specifically just to see him do this hour set,” Tasha Klockow said.
- 12:30 p.m. – Ditty Wish
- 2 p.m. – Annie Humphrey
- 3:30 p.m. – Austin Lunn with Andy Klockow (Panopticon)
- 5 p.m. – McKeon Hugh Roberts with Jed LaPlant
- 7 p.m. – Tattletale
Donations will be accepted throughout the event, with a suggested contribution of $20. Organizers emphasized that no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
“We didn't want anyone to feel like they couldn't come and be part of the community just because they couldn't maybe contribute monetarily," Klockow said.
More information about the event can be found on Klockow Brewing’s Facebook page.
