Backline, the music industry’s mental health and wellness resource, gathered for the first time in-person last week to commemorate World Mental Health Day with a show at Brooklyn Bowl that featured music from indie-pop sensations MisterWives and joan. The sold-out show raised more than $25,000 to support Backline’s programming, which includes free individual and group mental health support for music industry professionals and their family members, as well as exclusive access to wellness modalities.

Alongside the event, Backline announced they have filled the role for the first-ever Neal Casal Clinical Fellowship, a new position within the organization made possible with the support of the Neal Casal Music Foundation. Both NCMF and Backline were founded in response to the passing of Neal Casal, an influential guitarist in the jam and Americana worlds.

Backline and their partners continue to rise to meet the challenges of today’s music industry, which can be felt among a myriad of tour-cancellations for reasons including deteriorating mental health, economic decline, and lack of qualified touring crews to support the surge in live music since the industry reopened live music at scale last year.

New initiatives include take.care wellness kits for touring musicians and crew, Tour Health + Wellness Workshops, WAVES: mindful grieving group for music industry professionals, and Off the Road: a community for partners of music industry professionals.

As the organization continues to grow, Backline is putting a national focus on growing their network of mental health providers. Therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, life and sobriety coaches are encouraged to apply to join the network: https://backline.care/join-network/