Mile of Love: October 16-19 at Gibson

Hello, Appleton Music Fans!

It would be nice if we didn’t have to do another Mile of Love benefit show for disaster relief, but what’s happened in Western North Carolina because of the flooding from Hurricane Helene beckons our Appleton music community. You’ll recall how the Appleton community showed up for the Mile of Love in March, 2020 after the Nashville tornadoes, and we’re hoping many of you will be willing to stop by Gibson this Thursday through Saturday for a weekend version of Mile of Love. Even if you’re headed to other music events and only have time to stop to drop a bill off in The Giving Drum, your support will go directly to musicians and other artists and their families in the Asheville/Western North Carolina region. This area was home not only to a vibrant music scene, but also to a number of artists we have gotten to know and appreciate for their talents and human spirit through Mile of Music and other local appearances in recent years. Pierce Edens, who recently played Gibson and is two-time Mile alum, calls home right in the middle of where the flooding hit the worst. We hope to have Pierce give us an update on relief efforts as part of this weekend’s shows, and we also will hear from our own Nick Gonnering, who will also perform on Thursday night as part of Mile of Love. Nick and his partner, Alicia, lived for several years in the Asheville metro area before returning to live in the De Pere/Green Bay/Fox Valley. They have many friends and fans in the area who have been impacted in numerous ways by the storm and the massive flooding. We will work through Nick, Alicia and Pierce to channel any dollars from the fundraiser directly to families and we’ll report back on how the dollars are making a difference, even if in very small ways compared to the extensive need.

There’s no set cost to attend the shows this weekend, we only ask that you put what you can or what you feel good about donating into The Giving Drum each night that you attend. You are welcome to come to all the shows, parts of the shows, just one show…or, as noted, just stop by and say hello, sign the message board, and place your donation into the Drum. There will be snacks, information shared, and we’ll also be providing a percentage of the bar sales for the three shows (and from Wednesday’s listening room show) to the overall donation total.

Here’s what’s in the works for Mile of Love (note to all musicians…please let us know if you’d like to jump in for a song or two or three any of the nights):

Wednesday, Oct. 16 — The Lone Canary performs two sets as part of the weekly Rhythms & Brews free community music series and we’ll have The Giving Drum out for Mile of Love. Music from 7 to 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 17 – Nick Gonnering & Friends from 7:30 to 10 p.m. (ish), featuring Nick and his duo partner, Brent Felchlin on mandolin. Nick has also invited other guest musicians to join in for this night of sharing some important messages from the Asheville area along with music for the soul. Alicia will also help co-host along with the Gibson staff. No admission, just donate what feels right.

Friday, Oct. 18 – The Belle Weather & Friends from 7:30 to 10 p.m. (ish), featuring Eric, Thea and Cory, will join us for this benefit show and we’ll have some other friends of TBW and of The Mile on-hand to jump in. No admission, just donate what feels right.

Saturday, Oct. 19 – Listening Party, Jon Wheelock and more for this final night of Mile of Love, including additional friends such as Rob Anthony, Steve Wheelock and other guest musicians. Music from 7:30 to 10 (ish). No admission, just donate what feels right.

As other artists jump in to play a few songs on one of the nights, we’ll be sure to let you know who has signed on to help this cause. In all, we’ll have about 8-9 hours of live music to share in support of this fundraising effort, so please make it over even for just a song or two. Yes, we admit it’s pretty spontaneous overall, but that feels right for this effort as everyone just wants to jump in and do something to help – and to send not just some money but our love and good vibes from one music community to another.

The Mile and Gibson Teams