Murphy – “A man walks into a bar …” is the start of many jokes, but when Travis Ellis, co-founder of Shepherd’s Men, walked into Patrick Keenan’s flagship, Buck’s Bald Brewing in Copperhill, Tenn., neither man was laughing.
“Travis came in and started talking about his nonprofit,” Keenan recalled. “He had this idea of doing an event together.”
Ellis, a serious man with an almost fanatical focus, wanted to raise money for Shepherd’s Men, a nonprofit agency that raises money and awareness for the SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Clinic in Atlanta.
“It’s a clinical treatment program for post-9/11 veterans who have suffered head injury,” Ellis said.
Keenan, a flamboyant man with multi-colored sparkles tied into his beard, loved the idea of a festival to further Ellis’ mission. The two men decided on a music and beer festival that would bring awareness – and much-needed funds – to Shepherd’s Men.
The SHARE Military Initiative welcomes the enthusiastic energy of the Ellis-Keenan collaboration.
“We serve men from all around the country,” said Jon Roxland, senior director of philanthropy & partnerships at Shepherd Center. “Insurance covers very little of the $35,000 it costs, on average, to treat each client.”
The Share program provides free medical therapies as well as housing and transportation to the Atlanta based program.
“Most clients stay up to three months,” he said at the festival Saturday night. “We want people to know that we are a place for them to come. We are a resource.”
Local residents showed up in full force for the first Murphy Music & Brews festival. Dane Barnhart, an employee of Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, arrived early to save seats for his friends.
“A couple of nurses are coming tonight as well,” he said with a laugh, wearing his full Americana regalia. “I’ll do anything for the veterans.”
Sharon and Joe Horinek travelled from Blairsville, Ga., to watch the show, which featured three bands – Hu$hmoney, War Hippies and headliner Drivin’ N Cryin’. They pulled their chairs as close to the VIP demarcation as possible.
“We paid about $40 for our tickets,” Joe said. “They,” he added, pointing to the other side of barricade, “paid $100 a ticket. It’s all for a good cause.”
Among those in the VIP section, Adria and Loren Jones sat drinking beer and eating chicken wings. One of the perks of their ticket included bandstand seating and an opportunity to meet and greet Drivin’ N Cryin’ before the show.
Adria, an amiable festival attendee, held up her beer and a chicken wing in response to why she came.
“No, seriously,” she said, laughing over the music. “It’s a good cause.”
As the 4 p.m. opening approached, long lines formed outside the gate as police officers oversaw the safety of the festival participants. Assistant police chief Ryan Cunningham felt honored to serve at the event.
“I’m a Marine Corps veteran,” he said, standing at blocked intersection of Tennessee and Hiwassee streets. “This event is personal for me.”
Keenan, the event host and one of 10 beer and wine vendors at the event, said, “We pre-sold over 500 tickets and hope to reach about 800 at the gate. We hope to have a great event, and that the town of Murphy will invite us back.”
Ellis felt optimistic about what the festival could achieve.
“This is a great event,” he said. “Everybody is closely aligned in their desire to care for veterans. Everybody should hate war, but the love the warrior.”
One hundred percent of the proceeds, after expenses, went to Shepherd’s Men toward their mission to advocate and raise resources for the SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Clinic.