Update: Grog Shop to Host Benefit Concert, Raffle and Online Auction To Help Cleveland's John Kalman with Medical Expenses

Update: After a terrible accident left him in a medically induced coma for two weeks, local musician John Kalman remains in Redding, CA where he was vacationing at the time, and is currently awaiting release to a long-term physical therapy center where he will continue to heal before coming home to Cleveland.

In order to assist with medical, transportation, and housing costs associated with these injuries, Grog Shop will host a benefit concert on Saturday as well as a raffle and online auction to assist Kalman and his mother and sisters. The Gerloscar Supreme Team, Non Bruises and Wrong Places will perform at the benefit concert, and the evening also features complimentary food donated by Geraci's, Farmer’s Feast, R&D Sausage Co., Kensington Pub, MOJO World Eats and Gifted Grass Farms. The raffle, which includes gift cards, merchandise and more in a variety of themed baskets, will take place on Saturday night as well and starts at 7 p.m. A full list of participating businesses and individuals can be found on the Grog Shop website.

An online auction is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Friday through Great Lakes VNTG with assistance from Axon Creative, who have donated their online platform and time to host and organize the charity sale. Kalman’s friends, colleagues and admirers have donated limited edition signed records, original artwork, collectible guitars and other musical equipment, Cavs tickets and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame vault tour. The auction will conclude at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8.

Suggested donations of $20 per person to attend the benefit are encouraged. For donations over $50, a limited edition What Would John K Do? (WWJKD) T-shirt screen printed by former Rotten Meat Gallery co-founder Dan Miller will be included and available for pick up on the night of the fundraiser.

Original Post 10/31/2022: A vital presence on the local music scene for years, singer-songwriter John Kalman was vacationing in California when he sustained a severe head injury plus some broken bones (broken clavicle and broken ribs) from a fall.

Kalman, who works at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights, is reportedly in stable condition at a hospital in Northern California, but he needs help with his medical expenses.

A Gofundme campaign is currently underway to help John Kalman.

"If you could donate what you can spare, it will go a long way to helping John and his family get through this tough time," reads the message on the Gofundme landing page. "Please send all the healing vibes, prayers and thoughts you can to our good friend."