Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe Announce Benefit Concert for Friends of Firefighters with Special Guests

March 7, 2024

Rick Allen and Lauren have announced a star-studded benefit concert for Raven Drum Foundation. Set for Thursday, March 14 at The Cutting Room in New York, the benefit aspires to promote mental health services, counseling and support for New York City’s bravest through a partnership with Friends of Firefighters. The prestigious night will feature performances by Allen and Monroe alongside an electrifying line-up of musical lumineers.

Spearheaded by a performance of Monroe’s original music by the singer-songwriter and the acclaimed Def Leppard drummer, the all-star jam will commence with sounds from myriad famous drummers under the musical direction of Raven Drum Foundation director of artist relations Billy Amendola. Kiss co-founder Peter Criss, The Rascals’ Eddie Brigati and Widespread Panic’s Duane Trucks are among the icons booked to participate, alongside Mountain’s Corky Laing, Bad Company’s Simon Kirke, vocalist Paul Shaffer and bassist Will Lee from the World’s Most Dangerous Band and more.

“Friends of Firefighters aligns with our mission by offering mental health support and access to alternative medicine to NYC firefighters at no cost,” Allen and Monroe shared in the event’s release. “We’re honored by our legendary artist community’s support for Raven Drum’s first event at The Cutting Room. We’re excited to play in New York, creating a fantastic night of music, strengthening our community bonds, and raising funds and awareness for this vital cause.”

Allen and Monroe founded Raven Drum Foundation in 2001 with the mission to support people in crisis through alternative healing practices and mental health services. The organization works to advocate for high-risk populations, including Veterans and First Responders, with trauma recovery programs centered around the creative practice of drumming. For its latest event, Raven Drum Foundation will partner with Friends of Firefighters, a non-profit organization that provides mental health services to active and retired FDNY firefighters and their families. The organization has offered more than 4,500 counseling sessions since its inception over 20 years ago.

Tickets for the All-Star Benefit Concert are on sale now. For more information on the event and the organization’s other endeavors, visit ravendrumfoundation.org. Read on for the complete artist lineup.

Raven Drum Foundation Benefit Concert Featured Artists:
Eddie Brigati ft. the Rockit Academy Band
Gerry Brown (Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ritchie)
Peter Criss (KISS)
Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel)
Charley Drayton (Divinyls, The Dead Daises, Cold Chisel)
Amy Helm (Midnight Ramble Band, Ollabelle)
Bashiri Johnson (Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston)
Jim Keltner (Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, The Traveling Wilburys)
Simon Kirke (Bad Company)
Conrad Korsh (Rod Stewart)
Corky Laing (Mountain)
Devon Marie (Debbie Gibson)
Christine Ohlman (Saturday Night Live Band)
Shawn Pelton (Saturday Night Live Band)
Paul Shaffer and Will Lee (The World’s Most Dangerous Band)
Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big)
Kasim Sulton (Utopia and Todd Rundgren, Meat Loaf, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic)