Hendersonville – Rock On for Education will be 6-11 p.m. Three acts perform, with various musicians rotating in to play with the headliner. Admission is free. Donations to HCEF are encouraged.
The venue is Oklawaha Brewing Co. at 147 1st Ave. E. in Downtown Hendersonville. Owner Joe Dinan’s philanthropic brewery sponsors various non-profits. He chose to benefit HCEF on Aug. 2. He pledged that 20 percent of all sales at Oklawaha (open noon-11 p.m.) on Aug. 2 will go to HCEF to benefit HCPS students and teachers, such as through grants and scholarships.
Rock On presenting sponsor Southern Alarm and Security provided free commemorative silicon pint cups. They go to the first 100 patrons from 6 p.m. on. There will be a raffle.
HCEF Executive Director Peggy Marshall calls the benefit a “night of music, fun, and giving back.” She said, “Your support helps us continue our mission to empower students with leadership and life skills. Make a difference in the lives of our students and educators,” for “lasting impact.”
Gait-skilled Eagles
Electric guitarist Clay Gaitskill, the East Henderson High theater arts teacher, leads the East High Garageband of East Eagle students at 6 p.m. They will play rock covers. The other opening act, Free Range Revival, plays singer-songwriter Phil Brittain’s originals. He and Andrea Jackson teach at Rugby Middle, or have taught there.
After School Special
The headliner, After School Special, consists mostly of local teachers. It mainly plays “classic rock and pop covers from the Sixties through today,” noted spokesman Josh Dunkin. The band also plays originals by its guitarists, Tony Campbell and Dunkin, and well-known singer-keyboardist Carrie Morrison.
“We will be playing in different iterations from solo performances up to the full band, from 7:45 p.m. through 11 p.m.,” Dunkin said.
Dunkin is “thrilled to be invited to help raise money for teachers and students,” to “enrich my lessons, and provide opportunities for my students. The Education Foundation has always offered a wealth of resources” for HCPS.
He noted, “My daughter loved her Muddy Sneakers (outdoor expedition science) lessons. It’s just one of many programs that the Foundation supports.” The benefit show helps “other students experience that same joy.”
Rockin’ With Dunkin
Dunkin is the band’s acoustic rhythm guitarist. He also plays ukulele. He teaches music at year-round Hendersonville Elementary (HES). He “integrates” music and theater arts. As J. Dunks, he released his streamable debut album Man Alive with “pop & roll” originals. He has specialized in comical music. He produced a comedy music festival in Chicago.
Knoxville, Tenn. native Dunkin co-founded the Gathering Dark. It plays “cosmic cowboy” music locally. “We made a splash with the storytelling musical Dylan at Connemara, which tells the true story of Bob Dylan showing up unannounced at Carl Sandburg’s house” in 1964. Dunkin, like Sandburg much earlier, moved here from Chicago. In the “Windy City,” he co-founded The Pub Theatre Co. He led its sketch comedy shows, touring in 12 cities.
Musical Collective
The After School Special’s dual lead electric guitarists are Gaitskill and Campbell, the Flat Rock Middle music teacher. “Both ‘shred’ (guitars) with ease,” Dunkin said.
Other main members are Marlow Elementary music teacher Austin Williams on drums, and The Sliding Rockers’ bassist Buddy Seagraves and percussionist Dave “Dr. Z” Zimmer. Zimmer taught at East Henderson. Seagraves’ daughter teaches in the area.
Those playing Aug. 2 from the act’s broader “collective” include Morrison, a soloist, an Andrew Thelston Band member, and an instructor. Her video in 2023 is her gentle ballad “Keep to Myself.” Percussionist Isaac Wells, a former HCPS teacher, directs teaching and learning for The Core Collaborative’s educational consulting.
Scott Cowan plays banjo and percussion. Cowan’s worked in HCPS Instructional Services. “Scott Cowan got us all together to play for (Asst. Supt. for Instructional Services) Wendy Frye’s retirement two years ago,” Dunkin recalled. “Since then, we have played three shows.”
Dunkin helps lead Oklawaha Brewery’s open mic on Mondays. The nanobrewery’s other ongoing weekly crowd-participatory events are team trivia on Tuesdays, and bluegrass jams led by Derek McCoy on Wednesday nights. Oklawaha is typically jammed for benefit shows. Parking is free nearby along King Street. The paid lot across First Avenue from the brewery is usable with the ParkMobile app.
For more information about Education Foundation programs, check hcefnc.org.