BY CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER | Go Venue Magazine
The South is about to get loud and they’re not going to apologize for it. In fact, they hope the noise they create this weekend will continue with more music being blasted at future events.
Metal bands are coming together to back those military soldiers who came home injured from the wars in Afghanistan in Iraq with the First Annual “Musicians Unite for Those Who Fight” with a 2-day 16 metal band concert at the Dothan Civic Center Arena in Alabama on March 22nd and 23rd.
Steve Nichols, also known as Cujo Wolf, a radio podcast host for Cujoscryptradio.com, who mainly broadcasts rock and heavy metal, said the event is a charity music festival to benefit the Wounded Warriors of Alabama and he hopes this concert grows every year in support of those who risk their lives to provide the freedoms that we all get to enjoy in this country.
“Myself and my partner Rob Losh are not veterans in the military but we’ve had family in the service,” Nichols said. “My grandfather on my mother’s side was a paratrooper and a prisoner of war in Korea and grandfather on my father’s side was a Navy Seal. My partner has family that has served in the military as well.”
Some of those bands are local and others are coming from Louisiana and Mississippi to conquer the stage in Dothan and every band is donating their time for free in support of these warriors.
“It’s something we feel strongly about, to give back to those and did something for those who gave for us,” Nichol added. “We want to give back to the veterans who give their lives for us, not only the veterans, but the service men and women who are in active duty at this time and also paying tribute to first responders, our EMT’s, and law enforcement as well.
The proceeds will go specifically to the Wounded Warriors of Alabama, an organization that assists veterans with hospital bills, utilitiy patments, housing, clothing, food and the necessities of life that help them come back to the civilized world and it’s a way to offer these contributions to those who sacrifice themselves for our freedom, the organizers insist.
“One of the headliners is former Iced Earth vocalist John Greely, and his new band called Seventh Servant and he will have a guest drummer Brent Smedly, who is a very well known drummer, current drummer of the band Iced Earth,” Nichols said. “He’s very well known and he is the star of the event along with John Greely.”
We hope to get more sponsors and donations for future events, he continued, adding that they just began organizing the event 7 months ago and the some of the bands in the lineup included people he had interviewed on his podcast while others sought him out when they heard about the event.
“It’s just something we really wanted to do and hope to continue to do more of,” Nichols said.
The arena seats 3,100 people and tickets can be purchased online for $15 a day or $25 for both days. A black ibonze electric guitar that will be signed by al the bands performing will be raffled off and a drum piece by John Greely and his band Sevnth Servant. There are also are a couple of $100 gift certificate for elite tattooes.
Expect the loud this weekend in Alabama and know it’s going to a good cause.
“Our veterans do so much for us, they give up their lives, leave their families and many come home injured,” Nichols said. “It’s the least we can do, to try and give something back.”
The Lineup:
MUSICIANS UNITE FOR THOSE WHO FIGHT PERFORMANCE LIST
ALL TIME IS CENTRAL TIME ZONE – FRIDAY MARCH 22
10:30PM-MIDNIGHT –LOVE THE HATE
9PM-10PM – MANHATTAN3
7:30pm-8:30pm – SILENT TRUST
6PM- 7:00PM – THAT 80’S ROCK BAND
4:30pm – 5:30pm – LUNATYPE
3:00PM-4:00PM – PROJECT NINE
1:30PM-2:30PM – SETH AND WILLIE FRED
12 noon-1pm – BLUE METAL RIVER
SATURDAY MARCH 23
10:30PM-MIDNIGHT – JOHN GREELY (former ICED EARTH vocalist) with his new band SEVENTH SERVANT- featuring BRENT SMEDLY (current ICED EARTH drummer)
9PM- 10PM – VENTRUSS
7:30PM-8:30PM – CAIN RESURRECTION
6:00PM-7:00PM – SOCIAL STRIFE – FROM TORONTO CANADA
4:30PM-5:30PM – SAINT NOVA
3:00PM-4:00PM – DEAD MACHINE THEORY
1:30PM-2:30PM – THE HELVETICA EFFECT
12 NOON-1:00PM – STRONGFOLD