Some of the Bay Area's finest acoustic performers headline this benefit concert for fellow singer-songwriter, Melissa Crabtree. Rebecca Riots, Rachel Garlin, and Shelley Doty offer a powerful evening of gorgeous music with a strong social conscience in support of Melissa, who is ill with lead and mercury poisoning. All the proceeds from tonight's show will go toward covering the medical procedures that Melissa needs.

Depending on her physical condition, Melissa herself will perform a few of her own songs. An environmental activist and river guide with a husky alto and pleasingly twangy guitar, Melissa's love of the wild side of things deeply informs all her music. She walks the walk, too, recently touring the country in a bio-diesel van and protesting at the Nevada nuclear weapons test site. Her doctors have hypothesized that her present health problems might stem from radiation and heavy metal waste she was exposed to during these protests, or from the Los Alamos fires of 2000, when nuclear and heavy metal waste piles were smoldering for a month while she was living downwind in Taos, New Mexico, working as a river guide.

Eve Decker, Andrea Pritchett, and Lisa Zeiler -- also known as Rebecca Riots -- appear in a rare performance, replete with riveting vocals, powerful lyrics, soaring harmonies, dynamic musical arrangements, and the warmest, most engaging, stage presence you're likely to find anywhere. Taking on issues from the death penalty to gay rights, Rebecca Riots never fail to look either rank injustice, or deep truths, straight in the eye, and then wrap them in catchy, thoughtful songs.

Singer-songwriter Rachel Garlin, who recently won a slot on the main stage of the famed Newport Folk Festival, combines thought-provoking perspectives and slice-of-life storytelling with a strong, evocative voice. Rachel's resonant imagery is offset by her down-home sense of whimsy and irony, in songs that are an invitation to engage life with imagination and insight.

Whether she's fronting her band, the Shelley Doty X-tet, or playing acoustic (like tonight), Shelley Doty, quite simply, rocks. A charismatic performer who manages to encompass both electrifying swagger and elegant subtlety, Shelley writes songs that are fresh, edgy, and insightful, brought to life onstage with her soulful vocals, raw energy and masterful guitar licks. She'll be joined by Justin Katz on upright bass for tonight's performance.

Tonight, organizers of the benefit will hold a raffle and silent auction of goods and services donate by local businesses and musicians to help raise funds. Additional contributions can be made at the event or sent directly to: The Melissa Crabtree Medical Fund, Bank of the San Juans, 144 East 8th Street, Durango, CO 81301.