Craig Stickland concert coming to Bayou Theater

Indie rock singer Craig Stickland has played to hundreds of crowds alongside multiple world famous musicians. Currently touring college campuses, one stop he’ll be making this month will be right here at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Fresh off the “Head Full of Dreams” tour with Coldplay and Alessia Cara, Stickland will be headlining “Playing for the Garden: Garden Aide Concert” benefiting GardenKids of Kemah Friday, Sept. 30, at UHCL’s Bayou Theater at 7 p.m.

“I’ve always wanted to be a musician,” Stickland said, mentioning that his passion for music came at an early age.

Stickland, who grew up in Toronto listening to The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, said that he likes to research the music that those groups and other artists he admires listen to so he can gain inspiration for writing.

His first album, “Leave Me To The Wild,” was released earlier this year and contains songs filled with emotional lyrics about love, heartbreak and life.

“The majority of the songs were inspired by one relationship that I had in my early twenties,” Stickland said. “That was a big inspiration for me, for a lot of the songs, and I think a lot of the stuff I’ve been writing now.”

Stickland is currently writing songs for his new album, which he hopes to have out in early 2017.

“Stuff I’ve been writing for my new record is just still experiences from life and love, but coming from a happier place unlike the breakup songs from my first record,” Stickland said.

In addition to being a solo artist, Stickland is the lead guitarist for Alessia Cara and played with her while touring this summer with Coldplay.

“It was such an unbelievable experience, truly a dream come true,” Stickland said while discussing the “Head Full of Dreams” tour. “I have no words to describe how amazing it was. I think the most memorable part for me was getting a chance to be behind the scenes of something so huge and something on such an amazing scale. Just watching the band every night was just so inspiring as an artist, just to understand that it is completely possible to get to that level and to see how they do it and how something like that operates is incredible.”

Proceeds from the Garden Aide concert will be going toward GardenKids of Kemah, an organization that is dedicated to helping children learn how to plant, grow and cook their own food. Stickland said that this is something he believes is important for children to learn.

“I’m a huge fan of nature, and I think it’s incredibly important, especially with what’s going on with our food these days,” Stickland said. “If I had the opportunity, if I had a property, I would 100 percent grow all my own foods and all my own veggies.”

Shelia Thorne, project lead of GardenKids of Kemah, says the organization is excited to have Craig Stickland headline the concert.

“The kids wanted something different than other types of fundraisers for youth groups, and they always have music on in our garden, so we thought a concert would be great,” Thorne said, mentioning that this is their first attempt at hosting a concert.

When it came to choosing who would headline the concert, Thorne said the kids in the organization immediately had Stickland in mind.

“Several of our teams went to an Alessia Cara concert where Craig opened, and they told me they were really impressed by his music,” Thorne said, who also said the kids were set on having him for the concert.

Not only is this concert a first for GardenKids of Kemah, it is also a first of its kind for UHCL’s Bayou Theater.

“The Bayou Theater at UHCL is one the few places in the Clear Lake area that can host an event such as this,” said Andrew Reitberger, director of student life. “The Bayou Theater rents space to many different constituencies in the community, and we are glad to be able to be a venue for GardenKids of Kemah and their fundraiser concert.”

Joining Stickland is local comedian Jerry Carrillo, American Idol contestant Zach Person, and School of Rock – Clear Lake.

Tickets for “Playing for the Garden: Garden Aide Concert” can be purchased online at www.gardenkidskemah.org/concert.html with prices ranging from $20 – $50.

For more information about the concert, the attending artists or GardenKids of Kemah, visit GardenKids Kemah’s website at www.gardenkidskemah.org/home.html.