Soul-pop group Lawrence set to headline benefit concert
In celebration of its 27th anniversary, Highlands Health is gearing up for a musical party that will assist the community. The medical clinic, in cooperation with Johnstown Area Heritage Association, announced Friday that Lawrence, with special guest Carla Moffa Trio and The Platelets, will perform at its annual fundraising concert Aug. 24 at Peoples Natural Gas Park, 90 Johns St., downtown Johnstown. Gates will open at 5 p.m., with The Platelets performing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by Carla Moffa Trio from 7 to 8:15 p.m. and Lawrence taking to the stage at 9 p.m. “This concert is our largest fundraising activity and supports services to those in our community who do not have health insurance,” said Rosalie Danchanko, Executive Director of Highlands Health. “We are excited to once again offer an outstanding show for this great cause.” Siblings Clyde Lawrence and Gracie Lawrence have been writing songs and listening to Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman and Aretha Franklin records in their family’s New York City apartment since they were children. After years of playing together, they officially created Lawrence, an eight-piece soul-pop band comprising musician friends from childhood and college. The band has since gained a devoted following for its high-energy, keyboard-driven sound, which features tight, energetic horns and explosive lead vocals. In 2023, the band joined the Jonas Brothers on their four-month, 65-show tour across North America. They’ve toured with acts such as Lake Street Dive, Vulfpeck, Jon Bellion, Jacob Collier, Soulive, O.A.R. and Bernhoft, and have appeared at major festivals including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Firefly, Okeechobee, Hangout and Summerfest. Lawrence has performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, “The Today Show” and “Last Call with Carson Daly”. “We expect 1,200 people to attend this concert, ” Danchanko said. “Lawrence is on an international tour right now, and they have sold out Radio City Music Hall. We’re the only western Pennsylvania part of the tour that they’re taking, so we’re looking at drawing people from all over the state and outside of the state.” Danchanko said Lawrence is the biggest performance band they’ve ever had for the fundraiser concert. “It’s exciting, and it’s going to be lots of fun,” she said. “They’re unlike what we normally have with pop culture.”
While “American Idol” standout Carly Moffa’s musical style may have been built around her unique voice, it is the blending of jam-band Americana rock with soulful rhythm and blues rhythms that truly captivates. Moffa’s lyrics are unfiltered and her sound is equal parts yin and yang, dark and light, intentional and reckless.
The Platelets are a genre-crossing rock band from the Johnstown area who released their debut album “Steelworker’s Soul” in August 2022. With influences ranging from the Grateful Dead and Bob Marley to The Doors and Muddy Waters, their catchy songs and electric jams will catch your ear and move your feet. “This is very exciting for us. This is one of the biggest opportunities that we’ve gotten and probably will be our biggest for the year,” said Nathan Jackson, the band’s lead guitarist. “It feels good to be supporting Highlands Health, and doing any kind of charity event is something we enjoy.”
The goal this year is to raise $50,000. “Funds support those who do not have insurance, and it’s extremely important for us to be able to hold this concert because so many of our residents are uninsured or underinsured and need the support of the clinic to be OK,” Danchanko said. Food vendors and a full bar will be available. Event sponsors are JWF Industries, Ron and Lisa Kuchera and E.MAP.
Tickets are 30 in advance and $35 at the door. They can be purchased online at www.highlandshealthclinic.com or www.jaha.org.
– by Kelly Urban (kurban@tribdem.com)
