Saturday, September 19th, at Joshua Tree Trading Post – 6 PM
By Lisa Morgan
Dreams are brewing in Joshua Tree, California, and the music community is rallying to help bring them to fruition. Perhaps it is because no one understands the importance and power as well as the cost of making dreams materialize like Joshua Tree’s deep well of talented troubadours, but when Kirk and Nancy Roland whispered their dream into the ears of some very talented, benevolent musicians, a festival erupted.
Nancy Roland shared the story with CV Weekly:
“Kirk and I were introduced into brewing by none other than our youngest daughter approximately 4 years ago. Our daughter works at one of our little local cafés, The Crossroads. As a result of a conversation with one of her customers, we ended up accepting an offer to join him for a home brew demonstration in his little kitchen. We loved the idea of being able to brew beer, as we are most definitely a hands on/all in couple. On Father’s day, our daughter Jolie presented Kirk with a few brewing essentials. This is really when the beast was created.”
At first, we thought this was going to be just another interest that we could enjoy doing together, but it shortly became a passion. Purchasing more equipment and storage items became a necessity. We began purchasing recommended reading materials and picking up a few more brewing items here and there. At first we brewed in our kitchen in a large pot on the stove using extract brewing kits. We then moved up to a larger brewing system that Kirk put together. This allowed us to go from brewing 5 gallon batches of extract brews to brewing 15 gallons of all grain beers. Every weekend, we became completely consumed with creating recipes, sourcing materials, and brewing. Then there’s was the job of taste testing, a part of the process we have never been short of volunteers for. Rooms filled up with bottles, fermenters and kegs very quickly!”
“Kirk is a business development manager and service director, and I am a production and procurement manager. We first considered opening up a brewing supply house. Our studies, however, did not show a large enough market base to create a viable business. We threw around plenty of ideas on how to introduce the community to home brewing in order to create a market, but knew that it would take some time, so we started to build a plan of opening up a local tap room and supply house. We know that this will take a lot of time and money. We are taking a slow but forward motion with our idea.”
“Kirk and I participated in craft brew competitions understanding the need to create recognition for ourselves outside the community. We currently have received 4 awards; 2 gold, 1 silver, and one first place for four different styles of beer. We have plans to continue to build our portfolio through competitions.”
“One of our beautiful friends, Gabriella ‘Gabba’ Evaro, approached us and asked if she could put on a fundraising event to help us along the way with the costs of creating a business. At first, we were both taken aback and though grateful, declined the offer. Her insistence and enthusiasm soon changed our minds. Suddenly we saw just how many people support and believe in us, and were willing to donate time, talents and raffle items to make this happen. Kirk and I couldn’t be more humbled by this offer of generosity from such an amazing community. This is where I find myself believing that Karma is a real thing.”
The event will be held this Saturday at a new and beautifully unique venue in Joshua Tree – the JT Trading Post. Equipped with a full stage, sound and lighting system, many of the high and low desert’s most notable bands have already graced it’s stage. Donating their incredible talents for this event, are bands Lucky Bones, Canadian Tuxedo, The Adobe Collective, and The Acoustic Movement.
Doors open at 6 PM with a $7 donation. Pizza from neighboring shop, Pie for the People, will be on sale as will the Roland’s award winning craft beer. Raffle prizes ($5 per ticket) include two pairs of weekend passes to the Joshua Tree Music Festival, gift certificates to Crossroads Cafe, Pappy & Harriet’s and Lift Your Soul Leather Goods, as well as a 2 hour recording session at Chris Unck’s highly respected High Lonesome Recording Studio (1 full hour of mixing included).
Having heard each of these performers at the world famous Pappy & Harriet’s, I assure you, your heart and ears will find it worth the trip to feel and hear this colorful community come together to make a dream come true.
JT Trading Post is located at 61716 Twenty-nine Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree Ca, 92252
www.facebook.com/joshuatreetradingpost
Check out the music of this incredible line up at the following links:
Lucky Bones on YouTube: Gabriella Evaro & Chris Unck – “Lovers Poem” – Live From Mobile Recording Studio
Canadian Tuxedo on YouTube: “Same Way” Live from Roaming Sounds @ Joshua Tree Music Festival May 2015
The Adobe Collective on Bandcamp: theadobecollective.bandcamp.com/music
The Acoustic Movement: www.theacousticmovement.com
