The audience watched the High Valley Ramblers perform Sunday at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg during a benefit concert for Stephen “Big Mike” Reynolds of The Travellers following a serious automobile wreck earlier this month. The concert was to help Reynolds with expenses. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG – Musicians from around the region came out Sunday for a benefit concert at Bicentennial Park to benefit a drummer who was injured recently in an automobile accident.

The benefit was for Stephen “Big Mike” Reynolds of The Travellers.

Earlier this month following a show in Pennsboro, Reynolds was hit in a head-on collision and sustained serious injuries. He was life-flighted to Ruby Memorial in Morgantown, W.Va.

“We put together a benefit concert for our drummer, Big Mike,” said Roger Richards, lead singer of the Travellers. “He is still in the hospital. He got badly injured and has a long road to recovery.”

The band wanted to do something to help him out and they were contacted by other acts from around the state who offered to come in and help with the benefit.

A benefit concert was held Sunday at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg for Stephen “Big Mike” Reynolds of The Travellers who was injured in a head-on collision near Pennsboro earlier this month. (Photo Provided)

“What better way to show support to a fellow musician than to put together a benefit and support him,” Richards said. “We are hoping to get as many people out here as possible to get some support and help us out.

“We are grateful for anyone who comes out.”

Other acts involved in the benefit included Grace Campbell, Clint Carsey & the Tracklayers, The Travellers, High Valley Ramblers, Matt Petty & the Whiskey Chasers, J.P. Chandler, Jasper Stringer, Evie Schaffer and Son of a Mother.

“It is exciting,” Richards said. “We had some pretty good artists coming.

“We are really grateful to everyone who stepped up to help us with this.”

The car of drummer Stephen “Big Mike” Reynolds of The Travellers following a wreck earlier this month. Reynolds was injured and is still in the hospital continuing to deal with injuries he sustained. A benefit concert was held Sunday at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg with a number of regional acts to help him out. (Photo Provided)

Reynolds’ car was totaled and he lost his drum kit in the accident.

The benefit is to help with medical and other expenses as a result of the accident.

Organizer Sabrina Corra was able to secure the venue at Bicentennial Park and do other support work. They also received support from the Blennerhassett Hotel as well as food trucks from Poor Daddy’s Wood Fired Pizza of Middlebourne, W.Va. and the Smoking Cauldron BBQ out of Little Hocking, Ohio.

“We are happy to have the opportunity and the venue for us to have our benefit,” Richards said.

Before things got underway, organizers were asking for an entry donation with the proceeds going to Reynolds.

Jasper Stringer performed Sunday at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg during a benefit concert to help Stephen “Big Mike” Reynolds of The Travellers who was injured in a head-on collision near Pennsboro earlier this month. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

They also have a GoFundMe page link on their Facebook for Roger Richards & the Travellers.

“We are grateful for every person that we get and naturally, if we had the weather we would have 5,000 people out here, but we are grateful for every person that has come out and helped us.”

Corra said the benefit was originally going to be a week ago but weather forced them to postpone a week.

“The weather is gorgeous,” she said Sunday. “It would be great if people could make it out.”

Richards was optimistic that it would turn out to be a great event.

The Travellers with Stephen “Big Mike” Reynolds in the back. A number of local acts held a benefit for Reynolds Sunday afternoon at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg. (Photo Provided)

Corra said Reynolds was a great guy and a great drummer who played at a number of events around the area.

Richards said the story spread through a number of news outlets around the area and around the state and they had thousands of views and reactions online to the Facebook post informing people of what happened.

“I think a lot of people wanted to help because many people thought, ‘What if it was me?’ and what people don’t realize is when we are out and traveling and we are traveling at the worst hours of the night.”

They work hard getting everything set up, do the shows and take everything down as well as the time away from their families. By the time they are able to go home, it is late, Richards said.

“I think many (musicians) believe that could be any of us, because we are all out here,” he said. “Many wanted to come out and help a brother in music.”

Corra said people came in and out of the event throughout the day with many people wanting to catch a particular band.

The band members did not want to talk about what specific injuries Reynolds had, but they said he was dealing with a lot and would have a long recovery as a result.

Reynolds “loved music like no one else,” said Matt Snider, bass player for the Travellers.

“He wanted to be here so bad he couldn’t stand it,” he said. “He has been overwhelmed by all of the support.

“It has helped him out a lot to know there are so many people who care. He really needed the pick-me-up.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.