Songwriter, cowboy poet Mike Beck returns Friday to Carson City for wild horse rescue benefit

Mike Beck returns to Café at Adele’s at 6 p.m., Friday, March 14, in a benefit performance for The Joyful Horse Project, and in support of wild horse rescue efforts in Northern Nevada.

Artsy Fartsy Gallery of Carson City will have an array of Western art by local artists available. The hat will be passed and donations, which will be matched by Café at Adele’s, as well as a portion of art sales will go toward supporting wild horse rescue efforts in Northern Nevada.

“We are happy Mike is returning to share his music and storytelling in support of these amazing causes,” said Charlie Abowd, chef and co-owner of Café at Adele’s. “I am of the mind that if we all do our part, we can make a difference.”

A favorite performer on the Cowboy Poetry circuit, Beck, a singer-songwriter, poet and working cowboy continues to tour in support of his album, “Tribute,” which showcases original horse songs and raising money for The Joyful Horse Project, a non-profit organization pairing combat veterans with rescue horses in order that both the vets and horses receive the healing they need.

The organization is based in Austin, Texas, where Beck recently spent time in at Blue Rock Studios playing on new material for Ross Brown’s upcoming release, who Beck describes as a “Montana, ranch-raised young guy with talent.”

“He was blown away the old guy could still kill it,” Beck said. “It is one thing to perform live, but once it’s on a record, it’s there forever and over time, this is what has given (society) much of our classic, great (stuff).”
Being able to combine music and storytelling with his passion for working with veterans, drives much of what Beck does.

“Beth (Rand, founder of The Joyful Horse Project) and I got that going and it has been a grassroots thing,” Beck said. “The veterans are seeing the value in this and are taking it over; Beth keeps it small so the horses get used and are well cared for.

“It has been an amazing experience to see the changes in veterans who were dying a little each day, be restored … we know what a horse can do to promote healing; it’s powerful.”

The idea of intimate performances and house parties grew organically out of military brass, often retired, wanting to know how they could help support the work of The Joyful Horse Project.

This support has kept Beck busy touring and raising money.

“CD sales have been awesome and 100 percent of proceeds support the project,” Beck said. “Combining what I love to do with making a difference is humbling.” “When I am listening to music, seeing a movie or reading a book, I want to be inspired,” Beck said.

In addition to “Tribute,” Beck released “Pine Street Girl,” a CD featuring his band, The Bohemian Saints, last year. He grew up in Monterey, Calif., inspired by The Byrds and Clarence White, who was his guitar hero. The radio, the ‘60s and John Steinbeck all played a role in Beck’s formative years both as a musician and a writer.

It is this return to more innocent, simpler times that shows up in Beck’s performances.
“People are listening and engaged, hearing songs that tell stories and captivate the imagination,” Beck said. “People should prepare to be moved.”

For more information about Mike Beck visit www.mikebeck.com. For information about The Joyful Horse Project, visit www.joyfulhorseproject.org. Café at Adele’s is located at 1112 N. Carson St., Carson City. For more information, call 775-882-3353 or visit www.adelesrestaurantandlounge.com.