Bruce and Becca Ling Benefit: Sunday concert promises to be an event of the heart

Grand Rapids music stalwarts Conklin Ceili Band, Fauxgrass, Blue Water Ramblers, Nobody’s Darlin’, Dave Molinari, Ralston Bowles, more to play day-long showcase aiding couple from Hawk & Owls.

 

The Fifth Third River Bank Run, the biggest 25K road race in the country (plus a 5K walk), puts thousands of runners out in the elements early today, with a host of charities such as Access of West Michigan – which battles hunger and poverty – benefiting from this giant event.

But another weekend event – a dynamic musical showcase of regional talent – will benefit a couple well-known to West Michigan fans of folk, bluegrass and old-timey music.

Thirteen bands and solo acts will take the stage in The Stache, aka The Intersection’s front lounge, starting at 2 p.m. Sunday to give a helping hand to Bruce and Becca Ling, whose riverfront home in Comstock Park was ravaged by vandalism amid rising floodwaters last month. (Read more about the Lings and the shocking damage to the home in this Local Spins story.)

It’s been a traumatic, difficult month for the Lings, perhaps best known for their work in the Hawks & Owls string band. Ling even collapsed while volunteers helped clean up the home earlier this week, and was rushed to the hospital where he eventually was diagnosed with exhaustion and released.

“I guess working as an electrician during the day, and then putting in another eight hours working on clearing out our home was a bit too much on these 56-year-old bones,” offered Ling, who also gives lessons on fiddle, mandolin and guitar.

“I wasn’t eating right nor drinking enough water either. There was a feeling that I’ve never experienced before, and then, out went the lights. The final diagnosis was extreme exhaustion due to overwork.”

That won’t keep Ling or his wife from participating in Sunday’s benefit, however, with Hawks & Owls slated to “play a set of music at the end of the show,” followed by an “all-band sing-along of Stephen Foster’s great song ‘Hard Times.’ Appropriate.”

The benefit kicks off with a performance by the Conklin Ceili Band, led by Mick Lane, who also spearheaded the fund-raising event that attracted offers of assistance from dozens of musicians almost instantly after the call for help went out.

“Becca and I are so very appreciative and honored to have all this support. It brings us to a place in our hearts where we want to always strive to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be,” said Ling, noting that volunteers from Fountain Street Church helped clear out their house and stack items for inventory.

And Sunday’s benefit will include raffles, silent auction and bidding for house concerts donated by singer-songwriters Drew Nelson and David Molinari.

“There are some great musicians that have gotten on board for this,” Ling conceded. “The diversity of genres will sure be a great treat for all attending.”

Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music