Click here for the schedule of acts for both stages

Updated: 11 March 2008

First there’s that huge, beaming smile. And then the soaring voice that’s somehow even brighter than the smile. If you’ve ever seen and heard singer-songwriter and musician Joleen Bell, whether solo, with partner Phil Volan or with others at an Under the Christmas Moon concert or other event, you know that Joleen embodies joy. Now, it’s time for all of us to give some of that back.

On Jan. 31, Joleen’s car was hit head-on by an uninsured drunk driver. She suffered a compound fracture of her left leg, as well as a broken collarbone, sternum and ribs. One of her lungs collapsed. Two of her children, Jon and Kalee, suffered less severe injuries, including a dislocated hip, sprained wrist, and cuts and bruises.

Joleen will be unable to walk, work and sing for some time, and since the driver who hit her was uninsured and she was under-insured, she is burdened with tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.  So members of the acoustic music community -- including many of the top musicians along the Front Range -- are joining together at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16 at Benet Hill Center to create some magic. It will be a day of some of the very best acoustic music in the region, and it will help Joleen and her family pay medical bills and expenses while Joleen is unable to work. 

This will be the largest acoustic music event in ten years, with two stages and outstanding live music from:

• Jim Adam Blues Band – Adam’s music has been recorded by Edgar Winter and has been included in several films. 

• Acoustic Eidolon - incredible acoustic music from Hannah Alkire's cello and Joe Scott's double-necked guitjo.  From the Vancouver Island MusicFest to the Kerrville Folk Festival, from the Kennedy Center in D.C. to St. Paul's Cathedral in London and the Spandau Theatre in Berlin, Germany, people have been praising the sound of Acoustic Eidolon.

• Ceol Céilí - lively music from Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, the Shetland Islands, Northumbria, Brittany, French Canada, New England and the southern US.

• Ronnie Cook - the leader of the Flying W Wranglers and a many-time Colorado Flatpicking champion will bring his hot guitar picking and great singing.

• Adam Gardino -- This 18-year-old Pikes Peak Community College student was a finalist in the 2005 International Finger Style Guitar competition. He plays blues, ragtime, funk and contemporary music.

• The Mitguards – Chris and Deb Mitguard’s hybrid of folk, country, swing and bluegrass on guitar, harmonica, mandolin and vocals

• Lila Mori and Ken Miller  - They’ve played the Broadmoor’s Penrose Room for over fifteen years, and bring a variety of fine vocal standards and jazz for listening or dancing.

• Palmer Divide – original music from one of the hottest bluegrass bands in the Rockies

• Chuck Pyle – the Zen Cowboy’s songs have been recorded by Chris LeDoux, Jerry Jeff Walker, John Denver, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Suzy Bogguss. 

• The Storys - Colorado Springs' "guardians of tock and roll" bring energy, fun and great harmonies to your favorite classic rock, soft country, American folk, and much more.

• Joe Uveges – Uveges’ CDs have nabbed “best of” accolades in Southern Colorado, and he performs nationally. He’s known for warm vocals, insightful songwriting and excellent guitar playing.

• Phil Volan – Named Best Folksinger and Best Male Singer for two years by The Gazette and the Colorado Springs Independent, Volan is also a  2nd place winner of the National Finger Style Guitar Championships. He often performs and records with Joleen Bell, or as part of a trio with Bell and fiddle/mandolin player Jody Adam.

• Willson & McKee – Guitarist Ken Willson and dulcimer artist Kim McKee perform “Rocky Mountain Celtic” music. Kim won the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship and songwriting awards at the Milwaukee Irish Festival.

For those who can’t attend the benefit but still want to help, contributions can be made to a special fund for Joleen Bell, account #482449, at any Ent Federal Credit Union branch.

 Jane Turnis and Charlie Hall

Here's the schedule for both stages.

Please note that this is tentative,
and some times may change!