If you don’t know Jason Moon, you didn’t play music in this region in the mid 90s through the early 2000s.
Now of Arizona, Moon was the go-to man for open mic nights and had one nearly every night of the week at different venues throughout Oshkosh and the Fox Cities.
For one night, he’s back to do it again — and this time, for a great cause.
Gepstock 2019 will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12 at O’Marro’s Public House in Oshkosh. It’ll serve as a fundraiser for Warrior Songs, Moon’s nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing hope and healing to veterans through music and the arts.
The night will be organized in the style of an all-star open mic and Moon will serve in his old, familiar role as emcee.
“It’s where I got my start,” he said.
Gepstock 2019 is a sequel of sorts.
The original event in 2014 was a daylong fundraising concert in support of Fox Valley bassist Mike Gephart following a serious car accident.
At five years, it seemed like the right time to get the gang back together.
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Performers on Thursday will include Moon and The Great Garbonzos, Bobby Evans, Thacia Northey, Andrew Meddaugh, Ken Triboline, Steve Keller, Jeremy Thompson of Bound, Danny Jerabek of CopperBox, Levi Douma, Rick Maki and Aaron Baer.
Moon said his time in the Fox Valley taught lessons that played a big role in the creation of Warrior Songs.
His new role, like his previous one, is about encouraging others to take the spotlight.
“You can be in the arts and not make it about yourself,” Moon said. “You can make it about other people and have them share their talent and share their stories.”
Moon said he’s heard from people who said the open mics gave them the courage to take their next steps in music.
Money raised on Thursday will be put to good use.
Warrior Songs is planning an arts retreat for female veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma. They’re in the midst of their third album project.
Thursday night is also bound to be good for the spirit.
“I haven’t hosted an open mic in Oshkosh since 2003,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun to introduce them all.”
