CLAYTON — The musical gang from the Los Angeles area will return to this village July 4 for the sixth annual Rock for the River Concert.
Since 2004, Los Angeles-based musician Jay Nash has brought his musical friends to Clayton for the concerts. Mr. Nash is a Syracuse-area native whose parents, Eric and Carol "Dede" Nash, moved to Clayton in 2005 after several years of summering in the community.
Mr. Nash performs nearly 200 shows a year. In January, he performed at the presidential inauguration ball in Washington, D.C., with members of Counting Crows and Low Stars.
The annual Clayton concert benefits Save the River, a not-for-profit group with a mission to protect the St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education and research.
Stephanie G. Weiss, assistant director at Save the River, said the concert has raised more than $22,000 in its five years.
"Thanks to our two amazing sponsors, Duane and Dalia Stiller and the Cerow Agency, these proceeds go directly to supporting our river protection efforts," she said.
Ms. Weiss said the concert has turned into a homecoming for many river residents.
"Whether you spent the winter here or not, it's still time to welcome back the summer season and get people connected to the beauty and community of the river," she said.
The reconnecting is also true for the musicians, Ms. Weiss said.
"Some are coming back for the third or fourth time to the river, and you can see they understand why this place draws people so strongly," she said.
MUSICAL UNITY
Monica Behan, a 1982 graduate of Watertown High School, will make her fifth appearance at Rock for the River this year. She resides in Los Angeles but lives seasonally on Murray Island. She released her latest album, "Ruby," in February.
Ms. Behan said Rock for the River musicians share a sense of unity and support each other. She said that's especially important nowadays when artists are relying less on record labels to promote their music and doing it themselves.
"Jay is a great example of showing ways of making that happen," Ms. Behan said.
"Ruby," Ms. Behan's second CD, was produced by Chris Bruce, a longtime musical director for English soul singer Seal.
It's an introspective album, Ms. Behan said.
"My music has always been a form of reflection for me and a place I go to process my experiences in life," she said. "The title song is about one of my dear friends and her battles."
There are nine tracks on the album. "They are very personal stories," Ms. Behan said. "I did the record when I was going through one of the most emotional times in my life."
She added, "My music is melancholy, but there's also a ray of hope."
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Other artists scheduled to perform at Rock for the River:
Jay Nash
Mr. Nash was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the strongest voices in the Los Angeles singer/songwriter scene." His latest album, released June 16, is "All the Stars in Copenhagen." His previous album, "The Things You Think You Need," made it to No. 22 on the iTunes rock chart.
Meiko
This singer-songwriter has had a busy year since last year's festival. She signed a label deal, released a self-titled debut album to critical acclaim and performed on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" and on the premiere episode of "The Bonnie Hunt Show."
A single, "Boys With Girlfriends," was heard on an episode of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy."
Her song "Under My Bed" has had considerable radio airplay and downloads from iTunes.
Chris Seefried
Mr. Seefried is best known as the founding member and producer of the bands God's Child, Joe 90 and Low Stars.
In between touring as Rosanne Cash's guitar player, Mr. Seefried also scores numerous films and commercials. His solo album, "Denim Blue," was released this year.
Garrison Starr
Ms. Starr blends a pop/rock/alternative sound with her country vocal background. Her latest album is "The Girl That Killed September."
Joe Purdy
Mr. Purdy released his 10th album, "Last Clock on the Wall," on March 17. He releases his albums on his independent label and has been able to sell more than 800,000 direct downloads in the United States on iTunes.
His song "Can't Get It Right Today" is featured on a commercial for the Kia Spectra. His song "Wash Away" has become synonymous with the first season of the ABC drama "Lost" in 2004.
"Wash Away" is from Mr. Purdy's album "Julie Blue," which he recorded in 2004 on an island in the St. Lawrence River.
Joey Ryan
Mr. Ryan's songs have been in the top 20 of the iTunes folk charts in three countries. His tunes have been featured on the television programs "One Tree Hill" and "Veronica Mars" and the movie "Bella," the 2006 Toronto Film Festival Winner. He donated his song "California" to UNICEF for use in a television commercial publicizing the organization's TAP project, which provides drinking water to the world's poorest children.
Althea Jean
This seven-piece string band has members from Montreal and from all corners of the north country. They are Everett Smith and Curt Stager, on banjo, vocals; David Garlock, guitar, vocals; Kary Johnson, guitar, vocals; Eliza Moore, fiddle, vocals; Claude Aldous, upright bass; and Jeremy Greene, percussion.
NEWS FEEDS
