Robb Nash Project Reaches Out to Local Students Through Music

Tuesday, 28 April 2015 at 12:23

A near death experience prompted Robb Nash to start making a difference in other people's lives through music.

WOODSTOCK - The Robb Nash projects hopes to reach out to local high school students through music.

Against all odds, Robb Nash survived a head on collision with a semi as teenager - during his recovery he faced periods of anger, depression, and self doubt. Nash was able to work through these issues, and now travels the country hoping to help other young people survive their own demons.

When the Robb Nash Project first got going, Nash says there was no telling how much impact it would have. "Four and a half, five years ago, got offered a Johnny Cash tour - doing a tour through prisons, youth detention centres - but there was no pay so my record label said no. But I did the tour anyway. And then we started writing these songs about addiction, suicide, all these different things that we know young people are dealing with. Now we tour through schools and youth detention centres and stuff. So now today we're in Woodstock."

Nash says its clear these young people need someone to reach out to them. "Just on the topic of suicide alone, we've had - in the last little bit we've had 307 students have walked up to us as they're walking out of the gymnasiums and pulled suicide notes out of their pockets and handed them to us. Like, kids sitting in class with suicide notes in their pockets. You know, police say they write that note 2 - 3 months before they do it. Waiting for someone to push them over the edge, or waiting for that breakthrough moment. We're hoping to provide that breakthrough moment."

Nash says in a year they try to play at least 150 concerts in venues all over Canada, "We play for high schools, we play for junior highs. We were just in Moncton - we set up in a theatre and they just bused schools in show after show. But coast to coast, yeah we play for students because we saw how consistant the issues were from school to school, city to city."

For more information on the project, and to connect with Robb Nash via social media visit RobbNash.com