Phish, Umphrey’s McGee and moe. are among over 20 contributors to the #iggystrong online auction for Chris Friday’s son Iggy Friday who was diagnosed with cancer. Chris Friday is the tour manager for Phish bassist Mike Gordon as well as warehouse manager for Phish and former production manager at Higher Ground in Burlington, Vermont. Chris is also a member of the Burlington-based band Touchpants with Phish drummer Jon Fishman.
Iggy Friday was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia cancer at 11-years-old. Organized by Cate Esser (booking agent, promoter) and Danny Bennett (Higher Ground, production and stage management for Gov’t Mule, Mike Gordon, Grace Potter), funds raised from the #iggystrong online auction will go toward medical costs for Iggy’s treatment.
Among the items up for auction are:
- Signed Phish Fenway 2019 Poster
- Mike Gordon’s 2019 Clone Gag Outfit
- Umphrey’s McGee VIP Pod for May 28, 2021 Drive In Show
- Rob Derhak (moe.) Personalized Song
- Tedeschi Trucks Band Signed Poster & Pin Package
- Drum Lessons with Trey Anastasio Band Drummer Russ Lawton
- Goose Signed Goosemas 2020 Poster
- Twiddle Merch Package
- Higher Ground VIP Outdoor Package
- (4) VIP Tickets to a Disco Biscuits Show
- (2) Tickets to Any Show @ Red Rocks 2021-2022
- (2) Lifetime Passes to Waking Windows Music Festival
- (2) Tickets to Any Show at The Gorge 2021-2022
Bidding for #iggystrong auction items closes at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, March 29. Find more information, including a complete list of auction items, via this link.
Read a statement from the #iggystrong auction organizers:
You may not know it, but you’ve probably been impacted by something [Chris Friday] was involved in at some point and now his son, Iggy has just recently been diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia, at 11 years old. The past year has decimated our industry and crowdfunding doesn’t feel right. So, with the help of our friends, we were able to put together an auction to help raise funds for treatment for the Fridays.
This industry is small and we’re a family. We’re so thankful for all of the artists and businesses who rallied behind us and helped us do an auction in three weeks. We’re excited for fans to see the items and hope that we can bring awareness to childhood leukemia and the Philadelphia chromosome (which only affects 5% of ALL patients).
Read a statement from Chris Friday:
Wow. Just wow. My partner Barbarajean Goska and I had nothing to do with this supremely amazing gesture of kindness towards our family. I really want to thank the organizers of this from the bottom of our hearts – our dear friends in music and in life – Cate Esser and Danny Bennett. Cate worked with me at Higher Ground for many years involved with production and just about anything artist-related, and went on to be her own successful promoter and artist liaison in New Orleans and beyond. She is a saint and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have ever had the pleasure of meeting her, let alone working with her. I met Danny at Higher Ground when the 2nd (newer) version opened in 2004, and we’ve been great friends and touring buddies ever since. Danny has been in multiple roles in stage crews and production for multiple bands including Govt. Mule, Phil & Friends, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The Allman Brothers Band, Mike Gordon, and many others. He also is the current production manager at Higher Ground. He is one of the hardest working and knowledgeable guys in the industry, and has helped me through many hard times on the road, and has always had my back in multiple instances – a true friend indeed. Danny and Cate have worked their asses off tirelessly on this, contacting hundreds of people to get this all set up, and they are incredible, loving friends.
These dear friends set this up for us, again a gesture of kindness in the human form – and when you look at this list of phenomenal artists and businesses involved, you realize that this world does care. Thanks to every single artist, person, business, whoever – that donated their valuable item to this auction to benefit our son. We express our gratitude in ways that words could never convey, just thanks so much. It’s a fun list to look at, and definitely, a unique selection of items you may never see anywhere else – these contributors went all out to help us, as you’ll see.
Thanks again, everyone. All the love in the world – Chris Friday.
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