Veterans honored with concert

Last updated Nov 08, 2011 12:0pm0

Area musicians will gather at Sisters Coffee Company on Friday, November 11, from 1 to 6 p.m. to celebrate Veterans Day with a concert. Central Oregon Veterans Outreach will be collecting donations of food, clothing, tarps, tents, camping supplies and money that will be used to aid Central Oregon's Veterans who are in need this season.

The mission of Central Oregon Veterans Outreach is to serve, assist and create support for the veterans of Central Oregon.

The event includes performances by men's quintet, The Forefathers; Jim Cornelius; Shane Simonsen; Travis Ehrenstrom and acoustic folk-rock group The Selfless Riot.

The Forefathers are a men's quartet that sings popular music from the '30s, '40s and '50s. Jim Cornelius is a member of the Sisters Folk Festival board of directors and part of the acoustic Americana band The Anvil Blasters. For more information visit http://www.anvilblasters.com.

Northwest-based singer-songwriter Shane Simonsen was selected as a finalist in Country Music Television's Music City Madness competition in 2007. In 2009 he released the studio EP "Summer Dreams Away," along with a collection of bedroom recordings entitled "The Well." In 2011 he released the self-produced LP "Brackish Waters." His songs have been featured on the benefit albums "Rock Rwanda" in 2008, and "When The Morning Comes" in 2011. For more information visit http://www.noisetrade.com/shanesimonsen.

Sisters native Travis Ehrenstrom is a singer-songwriter for the 21st-century music lover. While keeping an acoustic base, Ehrenstrom incorporates a wide range of influences that shade his songs with unique textures. For more information visit http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tehrenstrom.

Founding members Jordan Meeks and Trevor Blake started their band, The Selfless Riot, with a passion for playing music and ministering to the needs of others. Their website at http://www.reverbnation.com/

theselflessriot states: "We are building a family with our music, and we would like you to become a part of the cause."

Sisters Coffee Company is located at 273 W. Hood Ave. in Sisters.

Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) was founded in 2005 by members of Bend/Laâ¯Pine Vietnam Veterans of America. COVO became a 501(c)(3) organization and an Oregon nonprofit corporation in 2005. Its initial purpose was to assist veterans found living in local homeless camps. Their mission has grown exponentially over the years. Here is a list of services they provide:

•â¯Outreach to homeless camps of our area

•â¯Distribute food, clothing, camping supplies, fuel, etc. directly from their office

•â¯DAV Shuttle Reservation Service to the Portland VA and back

•â¯File disability claims for vets and fight to get disability levels increased