Since music can improve mood and mental wellness, Compass Health Network will partner with 93.7 The Bull to hold a free concert on Friday, Sept. 20, to promote mental health awareness, said Susan Curfman, the agency’s senior vice president of corporate services.
The concert will be held from 5-10 p.m. at LaChance Vineyards, 12237 Peter Moore Lane, west of De Soto.
The concert is for adults, ages 21 and older.
“Music can immediately bring a sense of joy and positivity to the moment and the day,” she said. “Music helps us to feel connected to the community of (concert) attendees and motivates us all to participate. Music and mental health matter.”
The Sept. 20 concert will feature two bands – the St. Charles-based band After Saturday, which will open for The Rough Ryders, an O’Fallon-based band. Gates open at 5 p.m., and After Saturday will perform from 5-6:30 p.m. The Rough Ryders will play from 7-10 p.m.
After Saturday band member Kelly Kerr, who’s also Compass’ vice president of marketing, said the agency has held three concerts in Columbia and has been looking for a way to do the same thing on the eastern side of the state.
“We have a great relationship with iHeart, The Bull and KLOU, and they have been instrumental in helping us pull this Jefferson County concert together, and we look forward to this being the first of many,” he said.
Brad Chrisman of iHeart Radio/93.7 The Bull and 103.3 KLOU said iHeartMedia’s on-air personalities Billy Greenwood and Julia Diamond will host the concert.
“They’ve been strong advocates for Compass Health Network and mental health awareness, and they’ll briefly speak to the attendees on the importance of the topic and then, of course, Compass Health Network will also have a spokesperson on site to elaborate more about their plans in the Jefferson County community,” Crisman said.
“We collaborated on the idea of having a concert to promote mental health through our conversations over the past several years, and when the merger between Compass and Comtrea took place in 2023, we knew how important raising awareness of mental health would be in the Jefferson County area. JeffCo’s always been a strong area for country music and 93.7 The Bull listeners, so it just made perfect sense to transition that concept into reality.”
Kerr said Compass will have an information booth there.
“We want Jefferson County to know that Compass is there to support the residents in any way we can, and that there are numerous resources available to them,” he said, adding that several employees will be at the event to provide information.
“The Rough Ryders were the logical choice as headliner as they’re a fantastic local country music band that works closely with The Bull’s on-air personality, Dusty Panhorst,” Crisman said.
Since Kerr plays with the After Saturday band and he works for Compass, iHeart thought it would be a great tie-in to have the band perform as a special guest.
About the bands
The Rough Ryders was established in 2007 and plays country and rock favorites by Johnny Cash, Trace Adkins, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, George Strait and Luke Bryan. They’ve opened for some of country’s biggest recording artists, like John Michael Montgomery, Craig Morgan, Chris Young, Lone Star, Jeremy McComb, John Rich, Chris Cagle, Eli Young Band and Billy Currington.
After Saturday is an acoustic cover band that plays rock, country and pop songs. Ron Sick and John Sparger are the bands other two members.
“The band started as the need to ‘keep our sanity’ during the pandemic,” Kerr said. “Getting the band out of the basement became a bucket list item when I had a kidney cancer diagnosis two years ago. Band practice gave me something to look forward to, and an emotional outlet.
“My bandmates have been friends of mine for over 25 years. When I was coming to the end of my treatments, I asked them to play a party that I was having for everyone who had been with me through cancer treatments, family and friends. That was the night After Saturday was born, and we have been playing monthly ever since.”
The band plays at a coffee shop in St. Charles among other gigs.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, but no outside food and beverages will be permitted. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at LaChance.