Every so often, a concert brings focus to a particularly just cause. This coming Saturday, Fulton 55 is hosting a benefit show to help sustain a West African vocational school.
The second annual “Concert for a Drug Cartel-Free Africa” features the talents of Lance Canales and the Flood as well as rising powerhouse, Patrick Contreras.
All revenue generated from the event will benefit West African Vocational Schools, a Fresno non-profit organization that operates a job training center in Guinea-Bissau, teaching fundamentals, including basic computer skills and auto repair.
“We all take it [education] for granted,” Patrick Contreras said. “To them this kind of education, even at a vocational level, is massive.”
Patrick Contreras has emerged as one of Fresno’s biggest acts. He has drawn 1,000 at the Warner Theater and opened for legends including B.B. King, Bob Marley’s band, the Wailers, E40 and Fat Joe.
Contreras began practicing the violin at age four. During high school and college, his training became more serious.
“I ended up going to Europe as a member of Disney’s All-American Orchestra,” Contreras recalled. “It changed everything because in Europe, music is everywhere. That’s how it got started.”
This will be Contreras’ second appearance to the fundraiser.
“I’m doing an acoustic set and I’m going to get up and play an African drum,” Contreras said. “And I’ve got this cool African dub-step song that I’m going to release at the show.”
During the concert, Mario, an English teacher from West African Vocational Schools is scheduled to Skype-In from Guinea-Bissau.
“We’re doing all this work to have this one little tiny school run,” Contreras said. “I’m hoping to get the word out about what we’re trying to do.”
Also appearing at the festival is the acclaimed band, Lance Canales & the Flood. Their blues and gospel qualities, combined with their compliments of Native American musical traditions set them apart.
Lance Canales began his musical life as a 5-year-old singing gospel in a Pentecostal children’s choir. His grandmother eventually gifted him a ham radio that he secretly used to access new music. His influences include rock and roll icons like Jimmy Hendrix and blues singers from the thirties and forties.
“I listen to a lot of Robert Johnson, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Son House,” Canales said. “When I started listening to (Son House), I learned how I could reach my voice.”
Lance Canales & the Flood have toured through the northern U.S. along with much of the Midwest. Their song, “Freedom” received national play on Sirius XM. Canales has even received personal praise from former Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vice-president and current executive director of the Grammy museum, Bob Santelli.
Over the years, Canales has donated his time to countless charities and benefits. He looks forward to performing for this cause.
“You know, you always hear stuff about Africa and places like Darfur. It always seems far away,” Canales said. “But when all the sudden somebody contacts you about doing a fundraiser for a vocational school and you know these people are going to receive something, it makes it a lot closer.”
This is an opportunity for students and faculty to not only witness extraordinary music, but also to become intimately connected with a good cause.
Fulton 55 is located at 875 Divisadero St at the corner of Fulton and Divisadero. The concert costs $7 in advance and $10 at the door. The event is 21 and over.
