Not Just One-a-Year for One805

For the past three years, the nonprofit One805 has staged a big boisterous benefit bash in late summer at Kevin Costner’s surfside Summerland spread to raise a big percentage of its funds. The money is earmarked for all the first responder organizations throughout Santa Barbara County to help with equipment, mental health services and more. But when the twin Palisades and Eaton fires devastated multiple areas of Los Angeles in January, the organization didn’t want to wait until September to support – in the way they know best – the firefighters based just 90 miles away.

Rock for First Responders, slated for March 8 at the Granada, will be a much more intimate affair but perhaps even more eclectic. While Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Alan Parsons and Toad the Wet Sprocket – the quartet of local rock stars known for their ceaseless devotion to community causes – will be a big part of the show, the concert also boasts rare Santa Barbara appearances by Hootie and the Blowfish – the whole band will be headlining, not just lead singer Darius Rucker, who has a solo gig at the Bowl later in the year – and Macy Gray, who had a smash hit with “I Try.” 

Proceeds will benefit first responders of both Santa Barbara and L.A. counties, including mental health support for the firefighters in the southland in their struggle against the toll of constant exposure to trauma. The southland-specific fundraising will be similar to what One805 has created here, including the announcement of an additional $500,000 grant to their local mental wellness fund.

“They’re our neighbors and they look after us and we look after them,” explained One805 co-founder Richard Weston-Smith. “We sent 20 strike teams down to L.A. to help fight the fires, and many of them were working 48 hours on, four hours off. And when they can’t save a house, they feel terribly guilty. One firefighter was tasked with recovering human remains, which is about as grizzly a thing as one could do. So we want to give a little mental wellness assistance to our fellow first responders in L.A. who don’t have access to what we have here.”

A portion of the proceeds are headed for Music Cares, the charity that directly supports musicians in need, Weston-Smith said. 

“The musicians that support us so selflessly allow us to raise all the funds to do what we do. So many of them lost not just their houses, but their livelihood, because their musical instruments, recordings, computers and more were also destroyed in the fire. Altadena has a big musician’s community, and many lived in Palisades. We want to give back to the musicians, too.” 

Visit www.granadasb.org for regular tickets, or www.one805.org for VIP sponsorships.