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By Mark Huard
BANGOR — Maine’s suicide rate for 2018 is higher than the national average, according to the Maine Centers for Disease Control. That’s one of the main reasons many central Maine residents traveled to Darlings Waterfront Pavillion July 27 and 28.
The Waterfront Concerts, Music Matters and SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) joined together to bring some of the biggest names in rock n’ roll to Maine to raise money for this cause. The two-day event hosted about a dozen bands, including Five Finger Death Punch, Skillet, In this Moment, Clutch, Between the Buried and Me, Godsmack, Evanescence, Killswitch, Engage, All that Remains, Beartooth and Andrew W. K.
Many people are affected by suicide or by suicidal ideation, but they don’t alwats have the awareness, resources or access to resources to help identify and manage the symptoms. For these reasons, all of the proceeds from the the Impact Music Festival go to organizations providing mental health treatment and outreach services to those in need. In 2018, the festival raised more than $25,000 for Suicide Awareness and Prevention.
Music and positive energy fill the air. The message from many of these bands was “You are not alone.” Members of Five Finger Death Punch were able to discuss their work with children and adults to improve their lives and overall functioning.
“This event uses the power of music to support suicide and mental health awareness. We all go through our own personal battles and demons in life, but music is the common theme that brings us all together,” noted Winslow resident Kyle Calvo. He was right in the front row on the fence both days and loved every second of it, seeing all the bands perform up close and personal.
This was Calvo’s second time at this event. “I support suicide and mental health awareness,” he said, “and I will attend this event for years to come.” He would like to see as many people as possible attend this event in the future, but cautioned, “Before you judge the genre of music that is performed at this event, listen to the meaning before you judge the screaming.”
The musicians travelled far and wide to be there in order to make it clear suicide is an issue plaguing Maine and the entire nation. This approach is not only is away to spread the message and band together as a community, but also a way to gain proceeds to benefit the heavy expenses of the necessary treatment.
PHOTO: Ivan Moody, lead vocalist for American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. (Mark Huard/Central Maine Photography photo)
