Watch: Wavy Gravy’s 50th Anniversary Camp Winnarainbow Benefit Concert Presents Steve Earle, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Sam Grisman Project with Special Guests Peter Rowan and David Nelson
Last night, October 1, San Francisco’s Presidio Theatre transformed into a lively celebration steeped in song and collaboration. The charity event was billed as a 50th anniversary for Wavy Gravy’s Camp Winnarainbow, and positioned the Sam Grisman Project as the House Band, in support of husband and wife duo, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, as well as acclaimed singer and songwriter Steve Earle, with special guests Peter Rowan and David Nelson.
Before underpinning the evening’s guests in acoustics, Sam Grisman Project, the namesake, joined by Dominick Leslie, Phoebe Hunt, Nat Smith, Victor Furtado, Logan Ledger, and Chad Manning, paid homage to the bandleader’s dad, David “Dawg” Grisman, by pulling from his esteemed songbook. They checked the boxes of classics like “Opus 38,” “Shady Grove,” “Crawdad Song,” and “Nothing Else Matters” before the first guests arrived.
Nelson took the stage and received backing from Grisman and company on “Diamond Joe.” Next, San Francisco veteran saluted his New Riders of the Purple Sage salad days by covering “Panama Red,” with the song’s writer and fellow Jerry Garcia bluegrass accompanist, Rowan.
Sam Grisman Project and Rowan remained on stage and were soon joined by Trucks and Tedeschi to select tunes from bluegrass greats’ repertoire, “Mississippi Moon” and “Dustbowl Children.” Following a break in live music, songs resumed with Steve Earle’s arrival on stage. With help from SGP, the ensemble carried “Jerusalem,” “City of Immigrants,” “Galway Girl,” and “Copperhead Road,” demonstrating their dexterity while performing other people’s music.
The next set brought a seated Trucks and standing Tedeschi to the stage for a harmonious and hair-raising performance of “Midnight in Harlem,” “700 Houses,” and “Angel From Montgomery,” before paying homage to Jerry Garcia on “Sugaree,” with notable smiles and glances between Susan and Sam. They played through the I am The Moon feature, “La Di Da, before the all-inclusive finale, “Teach Your Children” and the Grateful Dead’s “Ripple.”
According to the charity’s official website, “For 50 years, kids, teens and adults have run away to join the circus at Camp Winnarainbow in the beautiful hills of Mendocino County. Founded in 1975 by Wavy Gravy and Jahanara Romney, CWR began as an offering to families on Sufi spiritual retreat, who needed childcare. Over the last four decades, CWR has grown to become a fully ACA-accredited, highly sought-after, circus & performing arts summer camp, serving tens of thousands of children in the great outdoors of Northern California.”
Donate and learn more about the night’s choice charity.
Watch videos from last night’s concert, uploaded by Rob Bleetstein.
