I heard about Rachael Barnard (now Rachael Evanochko) years before I got to meet her. Jason Ricci has told me about Nelson's Candy Shoppe and Rachael a charming blues lover who was bringing national acts into this confection scented wonderland now vibrating with blues music. Since working at Nelson's Candy Shoppe Rachael has continued to support the musicians and the live music scene anywhere she could get to and home in time.

I often wondered when I lived in MA how bands managed to make it work touring up and down the coast coming from across the country, making their way through New Hampshire, MA & struggling their way up the coast in areas of expensive lodging and winding back roads. Well they manage it and in no small part because of key person clubs and promoters like Rachael Evanochko that put their hearts and lives into the uncertain and financially ill advised arena we call live music. How do musicians like Albert Castiglia, Nick Moss, Jason Ricci, Jimmy Carpenter, Rick Estrin and countless others find themselves far from home base for their band to sleep, sometimes with sweet treats and always with a warm welcome? Rachael is well known throughout the blues world as being one who goes above and beyond to bring the music she loves to New England. Furthermore she works as an agent booking bands through out the entire country. She is active in the Granite City Blues society and active in supporting local & national blues bands. Rachael Evanochko is a kind, hard working, selfless, BELOVED and important part of our community and she really needs our help right now.

Last year Rachael underwent a back surgery and it did not go as they had hoped. A short while after the initial surgery she found herself relegated to bed with little to no feeling in her legs. She was rushed in for a second this time emergency back surgery, this one found disks discombobulated and left her with serious nerve damage.

I heard very little about all she was going through until after her SECOND back surgery. One that left her in serious pain as well as losing sensation in her legs. Jason & I spoke to Rachael about allowing us to start this gofundme. Like so many of the people I know who are REALLY good at helping others, Rachael isn't so good at asking for help. It took months before she agreed to let me put this out there for her. She is facing a stack of medical bills as well as a host of expensive MD appointments. Right now we need a village. It takes the connection of as many blues lovers, as many ports in the storm and helpers as I know are out there, to connect this little village, to give what they can , and keep the healing happening. Rachael Evanochko is a big part of this small but mighty blues village we are part of. Money that you donate will go towards her medical bills. Thank you for coming to this page and for being part of this little village.

Thank you so very much for your consideration and help any contibution you can make will be very much appreciated.