Lotus has announced plans for four benefit concerts to honor the band’s percussionist Chuck Morris and his son Charley. All net proceeds from the shows in Colorado, Denver, and New York will go toward the Morris family after the father and 16-year-old son went missing while kayaking in Arkansas on March 16th. The band has also officially postponed its April West Coast tour.
The first two benefit concerts are set for The Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, CO on April 21st and 22nd. Both Denver shows will feature an extensive lineup of special guests, including former bandmates, collaborators, and friends of Lotus and Chuck’s. The initial slate of participating artists includes Mike Rempel, Steve Clemens, Gabe Otto, Jeff Franca (Thievery Corporation), Allen Aucoin (Disco Biscuits), Dave Watts (The Motet), Jeff Lloyd (Heavy Pets), Rohan Prakash (Hive Mind), Wilson (Giant Walking Robots), Scotty Zwang (Ghost Light), Jeff Peterson, Anthony Fugate, and members of Genetics with more to be announced. To ensure the majority of net ticket sales go to the Morris family, Live Nation is offering “fee free” tickets to the Denver shows, now on sale.
In addition to the Denver concerts, Lotus has shifted two previously announced shows to now serve as benefits. The band’s May 5th appearance at XL Live in Harrisburg, PA and its performance the next night at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY will now also raise money for Chuck and Charley’s family. Tickets for all four Lotus benefit shows are on sale here. The band has also postponed its April tour which included stops in Texas, Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. Lotus is currently working to reschedule the tour and will announce rescheduled dates soon.
A fund has been set up to support the Morris family’s financial needs. Donations can be made here.
Chuck and Charley Morris first went missing back on Thursday, March 16th while kayaking on Beaver Lake near Fayetteville, AR. Since then, search crews have been searching for the two, though on the 21st the search went from a mission of rescue to one of recovery. Lotus band members Luke and Jesse Miller, Mike Greenfield, and former guitarist Mike Rempel who left the band in 2021 have all come out with statements remembering Chuck and offering some semblance of comfort for grieving fans.
“One of the highest achievements of a musician is to find your own voice on an instrument. Chuck’s distinct personality was so strong that it shined through in his musicianship, as it did in all elements of his life,” drummer Mike Greenfield said. “I can easily say that Chuck was the most unique person I have ever met, and it was fascinating to witness how his dynamic energy created opportunities for him at every turn. As a percussionist, comedian, computer programmer, family man, repairer of anything that was broken, and of course as our beloved ‘wildcard’—no one did it quite like him.”
The post Lotus Announces Benefit Concerts For Chuck & Charley Morris, Postpones Tour appeared first on L4LM.
