The CAN’d Aid Foundation, Oskar Blues Brewery’s do-goodery arm, has announce the launch of a new initiative called Send Me a Friend, a one-of-a-kind support system developed in partnership with New Orleans musician Anders Osborne. Send Me a Friend’s mission is simple – support musicians on the road to recovery from addiction by helping them get back to work sober. Conceived by Anders in response to his own experiences with early sobriety, Send Me A Friend provides musicians (and those who work in the music industry) with the resources they need to make life on the road–in clubs, music halls, and festivals—less daunting.
“When I first got clean, it was suggested that I should take time off from playing music and do something else while I focused on my recovery,” says Anders, who now has eight years of sobriety and a revitalized career. “But playing music was what I knew how to do…and it’s how I support my family—so I made the decision to get back on the road and start performing again.”
Send Me a Friend is named after Anders’ more powerful and hard-hitting song of the same name, where he sings, “You know I’m lost out here. Yeah I’m lost out here. Please won’t you send me a friend?” The creation of this nation-wide network will do just that: send friends with long-term sobriety that have volunteered to be “on call” to support newly-sober musicians and music people—who are trying to get back to work—at their gigs. “It was really hard for me in the beginning, and something like this would have been awesome,” says Anders.
All of the program’s Friends will have at least one year of continuous sobriety and will be called on, as needed, to meet with a struggling musician while they are “on the gig.” Friends will provide one-on-one support, a buffer, and a safe harbor from the temptations that can loom in music venue environments. Additionally, Anders will help curate the program’s website to provide helpful information on coping with early sobriety in the music industry. “Getting through early sobriety is all about connecting to other sober people, and to be accountable. That can be tricky on the road,” he says. “We hope this will make it a little easier.”
Anders and CAN’d Aid will officially launch “Send Me A Friend” on Thursday, December 15th on the eve of his annual New Orleans Holiday Spectacular with a solo acoustic performance taking place at John Bukaty’s Studio and Gallery at 841 Carondelet Street. During this special evening, Anders will perform, talk about the program, and take questions from audience members. All proceeds will directly support the program, including a silent auction featuring a signed guitar and artwork. Oskar Blues will provide the beverages and long-time Anders friend Shaggy, the “Crawfish King,” will serve food.
More information is available here.