Ramblin’ Jack to perform at Piper’s

Legendary singer and songwriter Ramblin’ Jack Elliott will perform for the fifth annual “A Night to Imagine,” a benefit concert for Community Chest, a nonprofit agency that serves Lyon and Storey counties.

“I haven’t looked forward to an event like this with this much enthusiasm in a very long time,” said Erik Schoen, deputy director of the Community Chest.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. March 21 at Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City.

Schoen said fundraisers in the past have been on a smaller scale.

“We’re really hoping we can push through to the next level,” he said. “Invite 300 of our closest friends and just give them a really good time.”

Elliott said that as a budding musician, he developed his voice hitchhiking across the country for a couple of years with Woody Guthrie.

He said he also played for James Dean and later married Dean’s former flame.

“We wanted to go with Rockabilly to appeal to the rural Nevada crowd,” said Pam Abercrombie, development director at Community Chest. “He really nailed it for us.”

Chris Bayer and Mr. Spoons will be the opening act.

Tickets cost $50 and may be purchased at www.communitychestnevada.net or at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, Sundance Bookstore in Reno or The Bead Store in Carson City.

For those who want to make an evening of it, several Virginia City eateries have agreed to donate a portion of the evening’s sales to the benefit. They include the Red Dog Saloon, the Comstock Corner Cafe, Café del Rio and CORE at The Cider Factory. For those wanting to stay overnight, the Silverland Hotel has a limited number of discounted rooms available.

Proceeds will benefit the Community Chest, a nonprofit agency in Virginia City that provides a variety of programs, including youth development, food security, employment assistance and mental health counseling to people in Lyon and Storey counties.

Shoen said that while people should get some satisfaction out of supporting the community agency, they should buy a ticket just to see a legend perform.

“If you’re able to catch this guy, take the opportunity,” he said. “Especially in a historic venue like Piper’s Opera House.”

For more information, contact Erik Schoen or Tamara Burnet at 775-847-9311 or erik.communitychestnevada@gmail.com or tamaraburnet@gmail.com.