Some of Nashville’s finest musicians will gather at 3rd & Lindsley on May 15 for Nashville Fiddle Fest, a benefit concert for renowned fiddler, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Glen Duncan, who has been recovering from a stroke and car accident he had in December.

Those confirmed to perform include Vince Gill, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Sister Sadie, Larry Cordle, Lonesome Standard Time, The Traveling McCourys, Darol Anger, Hawktail, Michael Cleveland, Jason Carter, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes and Stuart Duncan.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will also be live streamed on Volume.com. Tickets are available now and there will also be several unique silent auction items to be bid on during the event.

“Glen Duncan has been a role model, friend and mentor to countless musicians during his long career,” shares Dave Pomeroy, President of Local 257. “He suffered a major stroke and car accident in December and was hospitalized for more than a month. He has returned home and being cared for by his devoted wife Marsha. This tragedy has been devastating for the Duncan family on many levels, and Glen needs 24/7 care, which has created a major financial burden.

“Music City takes care of its own, and this will be a wonderful opportunity to help one of our iconic musicians as he continues to recover from this dreadful series of events,” Pomeroy adds. “Thanks in advance for your help!”

Those who cannot attend the show can donate to Duncan’s family on his Go Fund Me page.

The Big As Texas Festival, taking place May 10-12 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds near Houston, will feature performances from headliners Dierks Bentley, Billy Strings and Morgan Wade.

Others on the festival lineup include Dwight Yoakam, Los Lobos, Tracy Byrd, Clay Walker, Warren Zeiders, Maddie & Tae, Anne Wilson and Drake Milligan. The Lone Star state will also be well-represented with acts like Midland, Jamestown Revival, Amanda Shires, Buffalo Nichols, Braxton Keith, Trent Cowie Band and Kate Watson, among others.

Big As Texas has also announced a full slate of family-friendly activities, brand sponsors and local artists that will be activating onsite at the inaugural three-day music festival. From car shows to equestrian exhibitions, carnival games to immersive art installations, and silent auctions to chainsaw carvings, the inaugural Big As Texas Festival promises an entertainment-packed experience for guests of all ages.

“As a father-to-be, I wanted to ensure Big As Texas offers something for festival-goers of all ages. I’m personally excited to go out and explore the festival grounds with my family because this team has really packed out the space with so many different activities and activations to make the most of this three-day experience,” says festival Co-Founder Trey Diller.

Dylan Gossett plans to hit the road on “The Back 40 Tour” this fall.

Gossett will make stops in nearly 30 cities across the U.S. and Canada, including a hometown show at Austin’s Emo’s on Sept. 10 and a date at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 23. He will also visit Boise, Denver, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and more through Nov. 23. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, click here.

Gossett will also make festival appearances this year at Hangout Fest, CMA Fest, Farewell Festival and more in addition to supporting Midland on select dates. Additionally, he will return to the U.K. and Europe this summer for “The Somewhere Between Tour,” which has already sold-out in London, Manchester, Dublin, Glasgow, Belfast and Amsterdam.

Eli Young Band Starts Go Fund Me For Elias “Chief” Gonzales

Photo: Courtesy of Eli Young Band

The Eli Young Band has started a Go Fund Me for their brother and fellow road warrior Elias “Chief” Gonzales, who has been battling Follicular Lymphatic cancer for several years and has fought valiantly, long and hard. Last week, Gonzales announced that doctors have said there is nothing else that can be done.

The band expressed their love and respect for Gonzales in a joint statement, sharing, “Every once in a while you cross paths with someone who truly touches people’s lives wherever they go and whomever they come across. Chief is one of those special people. There are an incredible number of folks out there that love this man as we do. He has been part of our road family and crew since the very early days, since before we had enough people to call it a ‘crew.’

“Over the years he held every position imaginable…anything we have ever needed, he has been the guy. Always first to offer help to any artist from the first opener to the headliner, making good friends along the way. He and his family need our help to make sure that his time left on this earth is not spent worrying about the financial side of this thing and what comes next for his family and children. Anything helps. There is and will only be one Chief.”

EYB is asking fans and friends in the industry to support Gonzales in his quest to build a college fund for his children in his final days. Gonzales is at home with his four children, his parents and family making the most of the time he has left before beginning hospice care. Donations can be made here.

Clay Walker Foundation’s ‘Band Against MS Gala’ Raises $220,000

Clay Walker

The Clay Walker Foundation recently held its annual “Band Against MS Gala” at the Ballroom at Bayou Place in Houston and raised $220,000 for Multiple Sclerosis research. In 1996, Walker was diagnosed with MS, and rather than yielding to its challenges, emerged as a fierce advocate and fundraiser, establishing his foundation to support those affected by the disease.

The evening began with a pre-concert mixer where sponsors participated in a silent auction and also featured a performance by Walker himself of his new single, “I Know She Hung The Moon.” Overall, The Clay Walker Foundation has raised $2.6 million dollars for Multiple Sclerosis research.

Hop On A Cure Contributes To Massachusetts General Hospital’s Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS

Hop On A Cure, a leading advocate in the fight against ALS, has announced a contribution of $250,000 toward Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology’s Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS. Hop On A Cure was founded in 2022 after John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band was diagnosed with ALS. The gift will support the research project Exploring the Effect of Statins to Restore Stathmin-2 Function and Promote Motor Neuron Regeneration.

In addition to the contribution to Mass General, Hop On A Cure is also helping spread awareness and raise money for this year’s Boston College ALS Awareness Game at Fenway Park today (April 25.) The game, now in its fifth year, has been played annually in honor of former Boston College baseball captain and Ice Bucket Challenge founder Pete Frates, who passed away from ALS in 2019 at the age of 34. Hop On A Cure has donated a signed Zac Brown Band guitar, which will be auctioned off to raise additional money for the cause.

“We at Hop On A Cure are thrilled to support this innovative and accessible potential new therapy,” says Hop On A Cure CEO Nic Shefrin. “We are also excited to champion promising young talent, like Dr. Nolan, who have committed themselves to ALS research.