Rockin' benefit: The Freedom in Music Project helps get guitars into challenged youth's hands

Giving hope to challenged youth through music is the mission of the Freedom in Music Project.

Each year, the nonprofit holds a blues festival to raise money for its cause. The Freedom in Music Project, is a nonprofit founded by Phil Oliveira and his wife, Linda. The nonprofit provides guitars and lessons to youth detention facilities, recovery academies and Title I schools in Albuquerque and other states. To date, the nonprofit has delivered 330 acoustic guitars to challenged youth along with guitar straps, picks, gig bags, electronic tuners, batteries, stands, as well as written curriculum, songbooks and instructional DVDs.

Rockin' benefit: The Freedom in Music Project helps get guitars into challenged youth's hands

The nonprofit has been going strong for almost 14 years. A majority of the guitars have been donated in New Mexico, with the rest being donated to Title I schools in Amarillo, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pueblo, Colorado, and Bunker Hill, West Virginia.

This year’s blues festival performers are Brandon Post, School of Rock and One More Silver Dollar. The benefit will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at Backstage at Revel ABQ, 4720 Alexander Blvd. NE.

“Brandon Post, he’s a young kid, 21 years old, and a recent graduate of college with a degree in film,” Phil Oliveira said. “He loves music and he’s one of the best young musicians, naturally gifted talents, that I’ve ever come across.”

Following Post’s set will be the School of Rock, which offers music lessons to children of all skill levels including guitar, drums, singing, keyboard, bass and songwriting.

Southern rock and blues band, One More Silver Dollar, will wrap up the show with the music of The Allman Brothers and friends.

“I might play a couple songs, because I’ve always played with our band at prior festivals,” Oliveira said. “I might jam with One More Silver Dollar, just do two or three songs with them, so at least I feel like I’m a part of it.”

The Oliveiras’ band, High Desert Blues Band, usually performs at the fundraiser each year. However, the group disbanded this year with the passing of its guitarist, Walter Snyder, who lost his battle with cancer.

“He played with us for over 10 years and really helped us raise a lot of money to get 330 guitars out to kids,” Oliveira said. “(He was a) great guitarist and he’s sorely missed.”

Four guitars signed by notable musicians will be auctioned off during the event, with proceeds benefiting the Freedom in Music Project.

“One is signed by Big Head Todd and the Monsters,” Oliveira said. “One is signed by Ally Venable. She’s an up-and-coming blues guitarist. She’s playing all over the world and she’s supported and helped by (blues guitarist) Joe Bonamassa. One is signed by Steve Vai which was signed at El Rey theater.”

A particularly special guitar, signed by Brian May of Queen, will also be auctioned.

“I just got it about six weeks ago and that was shipped from London, England,” Oliveira said of the guitar. “... The Steve Vai and Brian May guitars, we’re starting the auction at $5,000. The other two signed by Ally Venable and Big Head Todd and the Monsters, we’re starting those at $2,000 because they’re worth it. Steve Vai signs very little and this is the only guitar that I’m aware of that Brian May has signed that’s outside of Great Britain.”

Oliveira said the musicians who signed the guitars are supportive of The Freedom in Music Project’s mission.

“It’s all about the kids and about the music bringing hope through music to challenged youth,” he said.