Lakewood Native Performing at Conservation Fundraiser

A new bluegrass band that includes local conservation experts Steve Madewell and Lakewood native Al Bonnis will perform at the Conservation Rocks! concert at the Beachland Ballroom on  May 21.

This will be the debut performance of Drake Hollow, the band made up of Madewell, who lives in Concord Township and is executive director of Lake Metroparks, Bonnis, a Chardon resident who works for the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jim Brenner and Mike Brennan of Perry.

The concert, sponsored by Western Reserve Land Conservancy, is designed to raise awareness of land conservation in northern Ohio.

Tickets, which are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, can be purchased through the Beachland website at www.beachlandballroom.com or by calling the Land Conservancy at (440) 729-9621.  The show is for all ages. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.  The Beachland is at 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland.

Madewell and Bonnis are accomplished musicians who have been pursuing their musical interests together and individually for more than 20 years.  They are best known for their complementary guitar playing and exquisite harmonies. Bonnis performs with The Next Best Thing, while Madewell is a solo artist performing his original tunes.

Also performing at Conservation Rocks! will be Pete McDonald (of the Land Conservancy) & the Black Oaks, The Swamp Rattlers (featuring staffers from Geauga Park District) and Fat City (with Harvey Webster of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History). You can also check out displays from conservation groups in the lobby.

Western Reserve Land Conservancy, which seeks to preserve the scenic beauty, rural character and natural resources of northern Ohio, has preserved more than 370 properties and 23,000 acres in northern Ohio.  The nonprofit organization, which is based in Chester Township, was formed in 2006 by the merger of eight local land trusts.