Our ninth event was actually a combination of Facebook Live broadcast events that took place digitally and not in front of a live audience. In light of social-distancing circumstances related to the COVID19 pandemic, the Ticked Off Music Fest rolled with these changes and scheduled five events in sequence with several musicians who had appeared at previous live benefit events. Performers included John Faye (May 25, 2020), Cliff Hillis (May 31, 2020), Zhenya Rock (June 7, 2020) and Gregg Kirk (June 12, 2020 & July 3, 2020). All proceeds went to Ticked Off Foundation Inc., a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, EIN: 47-4783824. This fund gives support to Lyme patients in financial, physical, and emotional crisis.
THE BROADCASTS:
John Faye is a singer/songwriter/performer from the Philadelphia area who has fronted such bands as Beat Clinic, The Caulfields, John Faye Power Trip, Ike, John & Brittany, and John Faye & Those Meddling Kids. In the mid 1990s, The Caulfields signed a major label record deal with A&M Records in 1994, releasing Whirligig in 1995. With eleven full-length studio albums, two live albums, a B-sides record, three EPs, a DVD, and a handful of digital singles to his credit, John Faye has amassed an impressive musical resume.
For his broadcast performance, Faye played several covers and a few originals that either “ticked him off” or showed his ticked off attitude toward the world in general… and Lyme disease.
Cliff Hillis is a singer/songwriter/producer based in the Philadelphia area who has released a number of albums with a style that evokes the sunny pop of the 60’s & 70’s, and that have garnered national Triple A radio airplay.
Hillis has co-written with some critically acclaimed songwriters such as Danny Wilde (of The Rembrandts & “Friends” theme fame) and troubadour Dan Bern. Hillis’ songs have been featured in movies and TV such as the Jennifer Lopez film “Enough” and TV shows “Party of Five” and “Life Interrupted”.
Zhenya Rock is a well-known artist currently located in Austin, TX who has founded and played with renowned bands as Red Elvises & Flying Balalaika Brothers, and he has done side work with Arthur Brown (Crazy World of Arthur Brown).
Now front man for the Flying Balalaika Brothers, Zhenya Rock was a founding member of the Red Elvises and penned some of their biggest hits including “Red Lips Red Eyes Red Stockings,” the full soundtrack for Six String Samarai and the full album “Bedroom Boogie.” Zhenya’s live broadcast shows his brand of gypsy folk, Eastern-bloc rock.
Gregg Kirk is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who has played and spoken on behalf of Lyme patients since recovering from the disease himself in 2011, and he has appeared at events in Hawaii, Florida, California, Maryland, Maine, and Delaware.
He fronts a musical project called the Zen Engines, and he has released three albums worth of material with that group since 2012. He is working on a new release, and he previewed one of his new songs during his broadcast performance on July 3.
