Musical healing: Blues Festival raises money to help youth find path to recovery

Sep. 21—Phil and Linda Oliveira are certain that music makes an impact.

For more than a decade, the couple has put on the Blues Festival in Albuquerque.

The couple also runs the Freedom in Music Project, which puts on the fundraiser to help challenged youth find their path to recovery.

"What we do takes a lot of work, but it's worth it," Linda Oliveira says. "This is our 11th year, and it brings together the community."

The event takes place from 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Historic Lobo Theater in Nob Hill.

Texas-native Cody Jasper will once again headline the event. Levi Platero, High Desert Blues Band and the Alamosa Elementary School Guitar Club will also be part of the fundraiser's entertainment.

Jasper was raised in Amarillo, Texas, and began performing covering blues and classic rock at the age of 16.

By 24, he toured throughout the United States, Norway and England.

Linda Oliveira says Jasper's story is much like those of the youth the Freedom in Music Project supports.

"Cody had a rough upbringing and music was what gave him hope," she says. "He had all this talent and no one would give him a chance. When he got his first guitar, things changed and have kept moving forward since. Cody is an amazing guitarist and his story is uplifting. He's a great example on how not to let your circumstances dictate your world."

The Oliveiras were recently in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with Jasper while he was recording his next album.

Through The Freedom in Music Project, the couple has donated nearly 300 guitars with accessories to schools, detention centers and recovery facilities across New Mexico and the region.

They believe music can offer an alternative path for troubled youth.

"All these people need a chance," she says. "We've heard stories over the years on how our project has helped people. It's now being passed down through the program. Music has a way of not only inspiring, but healing."

Oliveira says with a ticket purchase to the festival, attendees will be given a raffle ticket for a chance to win signed guitars, and there will be other memorabilia and art up for auction.

"For more than a decade, we've been creating a community," she says. "It's always great to see new parts of the community show up and support."