Graham Nash & Jackson Browne Sign On For Steve Earle Autism Benefit

Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, and Emmylou Harris are among the performers set for Steve Earle's 6th Annual John Henry's Friends Benefit Concert. The virtual show takes place on December 13th at 7:30pm EST at luck.stream/johnhenrysfriends, and is presented by Luck Productions & City Winery NYC, celebrating the Keswell School's work in providing education for children and young adults with autism.

Also scheduled to perform are Warren Haynes, Lucinda Williams, Shawn Colvin, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Josh Ritter, Matt Savage, and the Mastersons.

Singer-songwriter Steve Earle, whose son John Henry is the inspiration for the ongoing benefit, said in a statement:

Well, 2020 has pretty much sucked so far. It's been tough on everybody, including those of us in the performing arts, who, after all, depend on the patronage of live audiences for our very livelihood. Therefore, I’m especially grateful that some of my favorite people have come together against all odds to support a cause that is near and dear to my heart, the Keswell School.

Since we’ve been doing these shows, they are always my favorite day of the year. . . good music, good friends and a good cause. This year’s performers are John Henry's Friend alumni, one and all, and I’m eternally grateful to each and every one for suiting up and showing up in the hour of our school's greatest need.”

Jackson Browne, a member of both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame, was asked about what, if any, price a songwriter pays by writing songs that go deeper than romance and relationships: “Y'know, nobody wants to be scolded, or lectured, or preached to. So, it's a challenge to write songs that engage people, that challenge them to look inside themselves and examine their own feelings. The question I'm asked again, and again, and again is whether or not writing songs that have a political aspect or that have a social conscience has damaged my career. Because it's sort of a given, it's an assumption that most people make that if you go around talking about these things that you make people uncomfortable, people don't wanna hear it — and that you can't really change anything, and those who try are somewhat self-deluded.”