FARMINGTON — Members of the local band Revelation ’90 are preparing for a benefit concert Saturday night at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Initially, the band planned to open the concert for blues musician Eddie Kirkland. Posters were made and plans started, but then Kirkland was killed in a car accident in Florida in February.

“We think Eddie would want the show to go on,” Travis Pinkham said. His cousin Steven Pinkham agreed.

The concert is from 7 to 9 p.m. April 30 in the Lincoln Auditorium of Roberts Learning Center at UMF and will benefit UMF Intervarsity member Jacob Marcoux, who plans to spend part of the summer working in Uganda. Admission is by donation at the door, and all profits go to Marcoux, Travis said.

Blues musician Kirkland, 88, a singer, songwriter and guitarist, performed many times in the Franklin County area, Travis said. He played at Cherries Cafe in Farmington several times and owner Heddy Langdon of Phillips became his manager.

With many local fans, it was only natural to bring him back here for a concert. The cousins were looking forward to playing before him again.

With respect for Kirkland, the purpose for the concert didn’t change.

Marcoux, a UMF sophomore from Burnham, plans to spend five weeks working with an organization called Child Voice in Northern Uganda, Chuck Ellis, adviser for the nondenominational campus group, said.

Young girls who escaped their role as child soldiers are susceptible to many problems and mostly need to learn to play and be kids again, Ellis said. Child Voice works with these children.

The UMF Intervarsity Christian Fellowship is sponsoring the concert.

Playing Christian country and rock music, Revelation ’90 members enjoy doing benefit shows  for people, but it has to be for a good reason, the Pinkhams agreed.

“I feel like I’m accomplishing something good; it’s not just about me,” Travis said. He cited Marcoux for his selflessness in spending the summer ministering the gospel and helping out in Uganda.

Revelation ’90 members Travis and Steven Pinkham, James Rossi and Ivan Moore are progressing after seven years of working to find their niche. A CD, “Reflections of Him,” is climbing on radio air play.

One single from the CD, “Lift My Soul,” is now going national as a Christian crossover between regular country and Christian radio, Travis said. It’s gained a lot of attention on Facebook.

“The track relates to a lot of people. It’s about heartache, hard times and where you go for strength. When a person’s at rock bottom, down and out, they can go to God and feel better and loved,” he said.

The group witnesses through their music.

“It’s nice to know the words impact and say something that affects someone’s life and gives them hope,” Travis said.

For more information about the concert or the group, call Pinkham at 320-0818 or his father, Randall Pinkham, at 778-0670.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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