The Grammy-winning bluegrass group’s pre-concert tour stop at the Paul I. Phillips Club included surprise gifts for kids in the Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth music and performing arts program.
Sharing Musical Love: Fiddler Nicky Sanders of Steep Canyon Rangers gives some tips to a young member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids on Sunday. (Photo/Katlin Merby)
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This was a pre-concert stop that showed some real Grand Rapids love.
Before heading to DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids tonight (May 20) to share the stage with Steve Martin and Martin Short, Grammy Award-winning bluegrass band the Steep Canyon Rangers rolled into the Paul I. Phillips Rec Center with a special gift: 16 new musical instruments for the music program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth.
Sunday Matinee: Steep Canyon Rangers at Paul I. Phillips Rec Center. (Photo/Katlin Merby)
As “Tune Ambassadors” for the Colorado-based CAN’d Aid Foundation, members of the band presented the club with two Yamaha 88-key keyboards, two violins, three Meinl Jam Cajons, three ukuleles, three folk acoustic guitars and three mini-folk guitars. The North Carolina band, which melds genres such as pop, country and rock with bluegrass, also churned out a brief Sunday afternoon performance some youth members of the club at 726 Madison Ave. SE.
“We are truly excited to be partnering with CAN’d Aid and Steep Canyon Rangers for the first time,” the clubs’ Chief Development Officer Nikki Outhier said.
“Their support and donation of instruments will certainly impact our program. The new instruments will allow more of our members to learn how to play and will provide them opportunities to play instruments, such as the violin and ukulele, that we currently don’t have.”
THREE-SONG SET AND SOME MUSICAL TUTORING
The band — which has played together for roughly 19 years and toured regularly with Steve Martin — brought smiles to the faces of the club members who attended the afternoon presentation, which included performances of three songs (“Graveyard Fields,” “Love Harder” and “As I Go”). Band members also described how they met and talked about their favorite sport, basketball.
The musicians also spent some time assisting club members with some basics of how to play the instruments that sparked their interest.
Pre-Concert Stop: The Steep Canyon Rangers (Photo/Katlin Merby)
“I’ve heard bluegrass when it popped up on Google Play music, but never live before,” said 13-year-old Trevon Love, who was interested in learning to play one of the new guitars the band donated. The teen couldn’t stop from tapping his fingers on the table and moving to the beat while the Steep Canyon Rangers performed.
“If you’re in a position like ours, it’s important to give back in some way and we’ve targeted young people as who we would most like to influence,” guitarist and singer Woody Platt said. The band has donated a wide array of instruments to different facilities — from Chicago to Ashevill, N.C. — since partnering with CAN’d Aid.
Formed to support Colorado communities affected by flooding in 2013, the nonprofit organization today sponsors a wide range of charitable activities across the country, from donating water to cities such as Flint, addled with a lead-tainted water system, to initiating environmental projects, supporting outdoor recreation and bringing music to children.
RETURNING TO WEST MICHIGAN IN JUNE, WITH A SPECIAL BENEFIT AT PERRIN BREWING
Members of Steep Canyon Rangers — along with other Tune Ambassador bands such as Sunsquabi, The Wooks, One Flew West and Mo Lowda & the Humble — have helped raise funds for the foundation and held music workshops for students at public schools and other Boys and Girls Clubs.
“CAN’d Aid foundation is a publicly funded and non-profit organization that spreads people-powered do goodery through Towns, Tunes, Treads + Trails and Love Yur Momma efforts nationwide,” according to the mission statement on the group’s website.
New Fans: Steep Canyon Rangers with club members and administrators. (Photo/Katlin Merby)
“The CAN’d Aid Foundation is working to spread the love of music by donating instruments to programs in need,” added Alyssa Lile, CAN’d Aid outreach coordinator. “Our partnership with nationally-touring artists like The Steep Canyon Rangers helps us to give back in communities across the country, coinciding with tour dates.”
Youngsters at the Paul I. Phillips club knew there would be a performance Sunday, but the instruments were a surprise, Outhier said.
Nearly 2,000 members take part in the clubs’ performing arts program, which was established in 2012. The club’s annual concert was held Thursday at Wealthy Theatre.
“Without the help of groups like CAN’d Aid and Steep Canyon Rangers, we would not be able to provide programs such as the performing arts program for our kids,” Outhier said. “This program not only gives them a chance to learn how to sing or play an instrument, but it also builds all important self-confidence; something that will help them no matter what they do in life.”
The Steep Canyon Rangers return to West Michigan for a concert at 8:30 p.m. June 14 at Bell’s Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo, $22. Tickets are available online here.
The band plays the next day, June 15, in Comstock Park, where Perrin Brewing Co. is sponsoring its first annual CAN’d Aid Music Gathering at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, or $100 for VIP tickets including a meet-and-greet. Opening are Seth Bernard and Mark Lavengood, and the event will feature food trucks, music, beer, and lawn games. Get tickets and details online here.
VIDEO: Steep Canyon Rangers at Paul I. Phillips Rec Center (5/20/18)
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