Saturday’s first-ever musical benefit for Grand Rapids’ Guiding Light rolled out as a touching showcase of songs by a who’s who roster of Michigan artists. The review, photos and video.
Supporting ‘Much Needed’ and ‘Beautiful’ Work: The Rebel Eves at St. Cecilia Music Center. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
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The musicians involved in Guiding Light’s Saturday afternoon benefit concert included a little bit of everything in their performances — from humor, hope, heartbreak and every emotion in-between.
The first-ever “Guiding Light Live” at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids was a true celebration of what can happen when people show care and empathy for their community and join forces to make a difference in people’s lives.
Between performances on Saturday, Guiding Light, a nonprofit rehabilitation center for those struggling with addiction, presented short video testimonials to give attendees an idea of what Guiding Light does and displayed messages of gratitude from those who have utilized its services.
Tearing Down ‘Fences’: Michael Crittenden (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
Executive director Brian Elve repeatedly thanked the audience for showing up for their community and helping fund the organization through their ticket purchases, with more than 500 sold for the fundraising event.
Opening the show, The Rebel Eves — an Americana super=group of Michigan-bred artists — delivered songs about healing, friendship, and standing up for important causes.
The trio’s latest single, “American Dream,” offered an especially powerful message that everyone deserves a fair chance at living a good life, even when the systems in place are actively working against them.
Vocalist and Kalamazoo native Grace Theisen spoke about her own experience of helping to run a nonprofit organization, expressing gratitude for Guiding Light and the important work they do.
“Running a nonprofit is no joke,” said Theisen, “It’s beautiful work and it’s much needed right now.”
CLOSING WITH ‘WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE’
The second part of the event featured an acoustic songwriters’ round with acclaimed Michigan musicians Joshua Davis, Ralston Bowles, Kate Pillsbury of The Crane Wives, and Michael “Colonel” Crittenden of Troll For Trout.
Kate Pillsbury: Touching sentiments. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
Davis’ performance of “Paper Boats” led audiences to reflect on loss and remembering moments with loved ones, while Bowles brought a little bit of humor to the room and had the entire audience chuckling at his ad-libbed lines during “I, Love, You.”
Pillsbury shined a light on the struggles of working musicians and the process of breaking harmful cycles, and Crittenden told a heartfelt tale about his beloved adopted pets.
While each musical performance touched on a multitude of emotions and experiences, the vulnerability and openness that each artist showcased was a perfect way to celebrate the impact that Guiding Light has had.
At times, the artists even had emotional reactions to one another’s songs and had to collect themselves before taking their turn to sing. It was yet another way in which the theme of human connection and compassion was reinforced as the running theme of the event, which also featured a silent auction.
The Rebel Eves returned to the stage at the end of the show to join the songwriters in a sing-along rendition of Burt Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” originally popularized by Jackie DeShannon.
PHOTO GALLERY: Guiding Light Live at St. Cecilia Music Center
Photos by Katy Batdorff
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