For the first few years of its existence, the Frank Monahan Foundation brought in a lot of money through its Fore the Kids golf tournament.
As the flagship event for the foundation created in honor of the late Bishop Brady basketball coach, the tournament at Concord Country Club would fill up quickly. But it soon became apparent that there seems to be a golf tournament for everything. And that makes it harder to get players and recruit sponsors.
“Every year it got tougher and tougher,” said Marshall Crane, president of the foundation. “There’s only so much money out there for sponsorships.”
So this summer, the foundation opted to try something completely different. So on Sept. 22 (that’s next Friday), Sister Hazel will play the Capitol Center for the Arts to benefit the Monahan Foundation.
“We wanted to do something right on Main Street and tie it into the new downtown,” Crane said.
Through his work in the restaurant world, Crane has met a lot of people in the music industry, one being Sister Hazel lead guitarist Ryan Newell. A phone call got the ball rolling and it just came down to picking a date where the band could be in New Hampshire that worked for the folks at the Capitol Center for the Arts.
“They do a lot of different stuff with foundations around the country to help raise money,” Crane said. “So we’re happy Sister Hazel is going to be the one kicking off this new fundraiser.”
“That’s kind of a big part of the fabric of who we are as a band,” said lead singer/ guitarist Ken Block.
Crane wanted it to be on a Friday night and an early fall date would allow for more people to be around and not on vacation.
During a trip to Nashville, Crane and his wife, Mel, first heard Morgan Myles during a performance at Whiskey Jam.
“Thirty seconds into her first song, my wife looked at me and said ‘We have to get her to open for Sister Hazel,’ ” Crane said.
And it only took a couple more phone calls to make it happen.
Myles will play a half hour acoustic set beginning at 8 p.m. before Sister Hazel takes the stage around 9 for a show that’s expected to last about an hour and a half.
“I’ve seen them numerous times in concert,” Crane said. “They put on a great show.”
Sister Hazel even has a bit of a cult following known as the Hazelnuts.
“People travel all over the country to see them,” Crane said.
Tickets range from $30 to $100, with the largest price tags including some extra perks. For $100, you get the VIP Gold package, which includes not only sitting center stage, but you get to have a meet and greet with the band and attend the pre-show VIP party. The $75 VIP silver package includes seating near the front and the VIP pre-show party.
“The idea of helping kids in the community is so important,” Block said. “So we’re happy to be there to support the Frank Monahan Foundation.”
Since they have to pay the band and rent the Capitol Center, tickets sales is what will add to the foundation’s bottom line.
“The important thing is to sell as many tickets as possible,” Crane said.
The band has never played Concord, coming as far north as Londonderry in year’s past. And according to Block, you won’t want to miss it.
“Our live shows are what this band has always been about,” he said.
And just an FYI, a few sections of the Capitol Center have been deemed sitting only, so be aware of that when purchasing tickets.
For more, visit frankmonahanfoundation.org and ccanh.com/events/sister-hazel.
