Jerry Navarro, a Franklin-based musician, producer and composer, will host a special concert on Sunday benefitting the Historic Artcraft Theatre after it was damaged in severe storms in March. He has lined up a collection of artists, many from his record label, Soundscape Label Group, and encouraging people to give what they can to help rebuild the theater’s stage.
For generations of local residents, the Historic Artcraft Theatre has been a comforting keystone to the county’s cultural fabric.
Countless people have filled the theater to see films, plays, live music and more. In recent years, it has hosted community events, political forums and more.
Following the March 31 tornado and storms that struck the county, the theater is hurting. Now is the chance to step up and help.
“We decided to turn this concert into a fundraiser for the Artcraft. Ultimately, we want to bring more music to the Artcraft, and we want to see that happen as soon as possible. I know the musical community wants to see that,” said Jerry Navarro, a prolific local musician and record producer.
In support of the Artcraft Theatre, Navarro is hosting a benefit showcase at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Johnson County Museum of History. Joining Navarro will be a wealth of performers, including Kathy Yuhl, Jason James, and Brooklyn Elle — three rising stars who have recently joined Navarro’s Soundspace Label Group record label.
People can jam to the soulful sounds of Wendell Tilley and revel in the electrifying performance of John Santos, both coming from Nashville, Tennessee, for the concert.
The concert will be a “pay what you want” event, with people donating what they can to help as the Artcraft undergoes repairs.
“As (Navarro) has said, it’s to get the stage back together. The show must go on, as they always say, and he’s doing it for us. It’s very kind. He’s very deep-hearted,” said Dave Windisch, director of marketing for the Artcraft.
Navarro is an accomplished bassist as well as a music producer and composer. He moved to the area from Nashville, Tennessee, where he had studied music performance and composition at Belmont University before becoming ingrained in the famed city’s music scene. He has shared the stage with artists ranging from Bon Jovi to Dave Matthews to George Clinton.
For months, Navarro had been planning a special concert at the Artcraft to celebrate the founding of Soundspace Label Group. The membership-based record label offers world-class professional music services at lower risk and lower cost to artists.
“We could possibly be the first membership-based record label here in Indiana,” Navarro said. “It could be a unique thing for the community.”
He has worked closely with Rob Shilts, executive director at Franklin Heritage, which operates the Artcraft, to make Franklin an epicenter of local music. Other officials, such as Mayor Steve Barnett and Krista Linke, director of community development, have also supported Navarro’s vision.
“They’re music advocates, and they want to see music — really good music — to come though Franklin, particularly to the Artcraft Theatre to rejuvenate some outside traffic,” Navarro said.
Artists were booked for the concert on April 30, and plans were made to make it a weekend-long extravaganza showcasing the Artcraft as a venue and Franklin as a community supportive of the arts.
Then the storms of March 31 changed that trajectory.
“That’s where things went awry,” Navarro said.
High winds damaged the west side of the roof above the stage, as the roof had been lifted up and slammed down multiple times, knocking bricks loose and loosening the facade. Other parts of the theater exterior were damaged during the storm. The marquee had broken panels and tracks for lettering. Nearly all of the letters that had been up advertising upcoming events were also lost to the storm.
Repairs have been ongoing, Windisch said. But until it’s finished, the theater has remained closed.
That proved to be a problem for Navarro.
“We were at the point of no return,” he said. “Plane tickets were booked, people were coming from out of town.”
Quickly searching for another venue, Navarro was able to book the Johnson County Museum of History to host the concert on Sunday.
As those plans coalesced, he decided to use the concert for a good cause.
“It’s amazing to me, as Franklin has shown, the town shows up to help,” he said. “Through different people’s suggestions, they told me about the Johnson County Museum. We checked out that venue, and it was great, and we decided to make it a fundraiser.”
For the Artcraft, the gesture speaks to Navarro’s commitment to the city and to the community.
“It’s really generous. You have a guy who’s trying to figure out where to put his musicians, trying to get his record label going and visible, he has talent he’s trying to show off, and he’s still thinking of the community,” Windisch said. “It’s good to know that people care for us that much, to give that much.”
IF YOU GO
Historic Artcraft Theatre benefit concert
What: A concert featuring Franklin-based musician, producer and composer Jerry Navarro and a slate of other musicians. Attendees are asked to give what they can, with proceeds going toward repairs of the Historic Artcraft Theatre.
When: 5 p.m. Sunday. Music starts at 5:30.
Where: Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St., Franklin
Who: Performances by Kathy Yuhl, Jason James, Brooklyn Elle, Wendell Tilley and John Santos. Navarro will host and perform bass with all musicians, and backing will be provided by the Soundscape Label Group studio band.
Tickets: Available at https://bit.ly/JNShow_043023
