Singer-songwriter John Cruz headlines for the first time at Hilo’s Palace Theater on Saturday night.
Singer-songwriter John Cruz headlines for the first time at Hilo’s Palace Theater on Saturday night.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for the Puna Benefit for Life concert, with the show starting at 7 p.m. The benefit event will also feature an opening set with California singer-songwriter Alexander Nelson, local rock band Terrapin Station, and aerialist performances by Puna’s Hiccup Circus.
Puna Benefit for Life was formed in 2013 with the intention of assisting cancer patients in Puna with the often unexpected and overwhelming costs incurred due to the disease. Stacey Tucker, Terrapin Station’s lead singer, is battling a rare type of endocrine cancer, but will be performing with the band. Proceeds from the show will help Stacey with her medical bills and specialized tests that are not covered by insurance. Many of these treatments and tests require her to travel to Oahu, California, and New Orleans to meet with an oncologist who specializes in her rare cancer.
An art teacher and busy mom of three young daughters, Tucker is a strong leader in the East Hawaii community who inspires many with her strength, community leadership and compassion.
John Cruz is one of Hawaii’s most admired singer-songwriters, and part of a large and prolific local music family. He has two albums to his credit.
Most of the songs from his first CD, “Acoustic Soul,” are now Hawaii radio classics, such as “Island Style,” “Shine On” and his cover of Jimmy Cliff’s reggae classic, “Sitting in Limbo.” His second album, “One of These Days,” also garnered significant local airplay for the title track, plus “Hurricane” and “Missing You.”
Alexander Nelson, the founder of time-time Sacramento Area Music Award winning rock band, Walking Spanish, is an acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist who performs regularly with Walking Spanish and often appears at Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh’s new music venue, Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, Calif. Walking Spanish’s music can be found on iTunes, Spotify and Soundcloud, and receives regional airplay on West Coast radio stations.
Terrapin Station is a Puna-based band that specializes in Grateful Dead covers and classic rock, and is known for improvisational jams. The band is led by guitarist Russell Ruderman, a state senator from Puna and owner of Island Naturals stores.
Advance tickets are available for $25 at the Palace box office today between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Credit card telephone ticket purchases are available during box office hours at 934-7010. Door ticket prices are $30.
For more information on Puna Benefit for Life or how to help Stacey and her family, visit Puna Benefit for Life’s Facebook page or donate directly through her secure PayPal account.