CAMDEN — Music group Just Teachers held a free concert at the Camden Library Amphitheatre, June 14, drawing hundreds of area residents in support of two Camden-Rockport Middle School students currently receiving care from the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland.

“Quite a few of us in the band once upon a time, or still do, work in the Camden-Rockport Middle School,” said Camden-Rockport Assistant Principal Matt Smith. “And we have two students who are the nicest, kindest, most responsible, wonderful students you could wish to have in a school.”

Organizers of the event decided that the students, Ekekial (Zeke) Bryant and Katherine Bowen, know how best to donate the money to the hospital; therefore, the donations collected during the concert will be divided equally and directed by Zeke and Katherine. 

The band took a short intermission around 1 p.m. from the three-hour concert, which started at noon. During the intermission, organizers tallied the $4,500 contributed to the donation jars. Just Teachers had set a goal of $3,000, so donations continued as the band reconvened the second half of the concert.

And, Laugh Loud Smile Big raised another $400 in cupcake sales, making that group the single largest donor of all.

Following intermission, Zeke, Katherine, and Zeke’s father Woody, all musicians, accompanied Just Teachers in the song “With a little help from my friends” by the Beatles. The Bryants then exited stage right, leaving Katherine as bass accompanist for the song “All about the base” by Megan Trainor.

Just Teachers includes Adam Bullard, vocals and occasional guitar; Matt Smith, vocals, electric, and acoustic guitar; Ian McKenzie, keyboards; Piet Lammert, drums and vocals; and Lucas Benner, full-time bassist.

Another child, who lives in Lincolnville, is also a patient at the hospital.

See previous article

Just Teachers: Advanced music theory chops and epic mash-ups

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com.