A special benefit concert for John Hedigan, a multi-instrumentalist who is currently undergoing therapy for a brain tumour, is set to take place in Melbourne next month. The event, appropriately named Something For John, will see Aussie musos such as Something For Kate, Clare Bowditch and Powderfinger’s Darren Middleton join forces to raise funds for Hedigan and his family.
Hedigan, who has been a part of Something For Kate’s live band over the last six years, is an all-round music lover. Something For Kate frontman Paul Dempsey has explained the story behind Hedigan’s time with the band in a press release, saying, “Around the beginning of 2009 I asked my buddy Clare Bowditch if she happened to know any totally genius multi-instrumentalists to help me round out my band for the Everything is True tour.
“If you’ve been to a show by Something for Kate or the Paul Dempsey band in the last six years then you will have heard and seen the incredibly talented John Hedigan up there on stage-left working his magic on guitars, keyboards and backing vocals, making it all look completely effortless and generally making us all sound a whole lot better.
“He’s a brilliant musician as well as a professional music therapist, an enthusiastic astronomer, a friend, a husband, a father, a much-loved member of the Something for Kate family and a generally first-rate human being.”
Likewise, Bowditch has attributed much of her success to the work of Hedigan. “John is the only reason I started recording songs, and the only reason anyone has ever heard of me, full stop,” she says.
“When we met by chance at the age of 22, he heard something in me that no-one else had ever heard, and he asked me to start a band with him, right there and then. He was the first musician to ever call me a musician, and I have never lost the feeling of how good that felt. He took my half-finished songs and made them sound like something you could be proud of.”
Something For John will take place at The Corner Hotel on Saturday, 18th April, and will feature appearances from some secret special guests. Anyone unable to attend the show who wishes to donate to the cause can do so via The Corner Hotel website. Show and ticket details are available below.
UPDATE 24/03/15: A second Something For John benefit show has been announced, after the first completely sold out. The new show will take place on Sunday, 19th April. Ticket details are available below.
Watch: Something For Kate – Star-Crossed Citizens
Something For John
Featuring Something For Kate, Clare Bowditch, Darren Middleton + more
Tickets on sale now
Saturday, 18th April 2015 – SOLD OUT
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Tickets: The Corner Hotel
Sunday, 19th April 2015 – NEW SHOW
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Tickets: The Corner Hotel
