By Gretchen Wing

Special to the Weekly

Music is a mainstay of Lopez culture, and much of that musical passion begins at Lopez School. Now the school’s music program needs help, and the Rock En-Roll Music Festival aims to provide it. A community-driven benefit for the school district’s Music Education budget, Rock En-Roll kicks off Sunday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Lopez Center’s outdoor pavilion. If weather is poor, the event will move into the LCCA itself.

Rock En-Roll is the brainchild of Jesse Hammond, a local musician who is also a paraprofessional and IT specialist at the school. In late spring, the music program was in danger of losing its funding entirely, but disaster in the shape of full-scale cuts was averted. “Thankfully, community input and the insight of the school board and district administration found a way to keep the program alive,” says Hammond. A new teacher, Ingrid Vliet, was hired to teach both elementary and secondary music. But the program continues to suffer from worn-out instruments and equipment.

Hammond knows the challenges firsthand, having taught several music “intensives” in which students learn songs with the help of community musicians as well as teachers, receiving one-on-one support from professionals in the field. At the end of the course, they get a lesson in studio recording. “The last two years I have recorded over 20 tracks of students and shown them studio techniques in capturing sound,” says Hammond. “This has been challenging, to say the least, using the broken-down equipment available on campus.”

This summer, Hammond reached out to students and community musicians to create a music festival to replace and repair the district’s substandard instruments and recording gear. He teamed up with musician and professional emcee Bill Johnson, who gives private lessons to several students, and Johnson spread the word. Since he helped one group to form their own classic rock and blues band, The Cast Offs, Johnson immediately signed them up. Then came other bands. Arguably Purple, a three-piece student group, advised by Vliet, plays a mix of classical and folk. And Hammond has booked the services of the student band he advises, Sweet T, which plays alternative and blues rock. Sweet T includes one female rocker, freshman Charlotte Morgan, who says, “Being the only girl is slightly annoying, but totally worth it to be able to hear a song come out perfect in the end.”

Rock En-Roll will feature a dynamic medley of homegrown talent, professional and amateur, new and established, old and young. Lopez alum Kurtis Dengler will play his original blend of soul/rock/pop, supported on some songs by Hammond’s band, Sundown Rush, who will also back up Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Don Peake. Another Lopez grad, guitarist Taylor Zimney, will join Sundown Rush. Camshaft and the Pistons will add their rockabilly and blues rock to the mix, and the Field Boats – four musicians with kids currently enrolled in Lopez School – will round out the lineup, fresh from playing the county fair. And the audience can expect some surprise guest appearances as well. Lopez Sophomore Zack Mackinnon of Sweet T says, “I’m hoping that being a part of this music festival and getting to have fun and jam out with my friends will bring us all better music equipment for the years to come.”

The goal of the benefit is to raise $2,000. Bill Diller, owner of The Lopez Islander Resort, is donating his HD sound system for the event. Brad and John from the KISM (92.9) morning show will be broadcasting from The Islander on Sept. 4 giving their props to the Rock En-Roll Music Festival. For anyone who wishes to volunteer contact Jesse Hammond at jhammond@lopez.k12.wa.us