While medical advancements have opened many doors for treatment options, Grant unfortunately belongs to a rare genotype that is unable to take advantage of recent developments. (Less than 30 per cent of all people diagnosed with CF have this mutation.) Given that CF is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, his brother Tyler runs the risk of passing the gene onto his children. This benefit, apart from being a kick-arse day of music, performance, and tonics, will assist Grant and his family in getting to St Louis, Missouri, for an appointment at a pioneering CF specialist clinic.
Blues virtuoso, Kerri Simpson, joins the lineup after a fantastic few moths celebrating the release of her critically acclaimed album, Fortune Favoured Me. “I’m just thankful that Thirtymill studios had the foresight and conviction to let me record Fortune…” Simpson says when asked about the response to her latest album. “I think it will still sound as good in years to come and essentially it documents all the great players in town – Geoff Achison, Jeff Lang, Shannon Bourne, Matt Walker, Andrew Pendlebury and the extraordinary talents of our local songwriters like Steve Cummings, Chuck Jenkins and Cyndi Boste.”
Simpson is a true musician’s musician, playing what she loves regardless of genre limitations. “I just like making music; I don’t care about the genre I just love playing music and I’m lucky I get to work with an extraordinary cast of players on a regular basis,” she says. “I just recorded some gorgeous R&B tracks on for Belmar Records. I’ve been writing some groove-based material with Ray Pereira for his new band, Milton, who I sing with. I have been recording with the Ska Vendors, we’re putting out a new CD in time for our 50, 30, 10 Ska Party later in the year; it’s going to be huge with a stellar line up of local and international ska legends. Bit of gospel, bit of ‘70s – I just love playing, I have never been precious about what I’m playing. It’s all good.”
Simpson, along with the other artists on the lineup, are personally connected to the plight of Grant and are more than happy to throw as much energy as they can behind the benefit. “I’m involved with the Rock & Roll Gumbo Medicine Show because I’ve known Karen and her family for years,” she says. “Her son has a very rare genetic mutation of the cystic fibrosis gene and needs highly specialised treatment which he can get in the United States. Karen is a publicist to rock‘n’roll royalty but as everybody knows, this rock lifestyle business looks like it’s great but at the end of the day you do it all for love not money. Now Karen and her family are in a situation where they need money to keep her son alive. All the musicians on the bill are there helping in the only way they can. The Medicine Show is an amazing lineup of musicians from all kinds of scenes all getting together to help out.”
BY KRISSI WEISS
