Submitted photo: Members of the band "Naked Baitfish" are from left to right, Chris Furman, Kirsten Rouse and Pat Rouse. They will be performing Friday night at the Blairsburg Opera House.

The “Naked Baitfish” with Chris Furman, will be returning to Hamilton County to perform a full concert at the Blairsburg Opera House on Friday night.

It’s a fundraiser, a performance, a meet and greet, all rolled into one evening at the Blairsburg Opera House starting at 6 p.m.

Keith Halleland, who has organized this event, approached the Webster City School Board in July, to ask if they could do this to support the music and arts at the Northeast Hamilton Elementary Schools.

“I’ve really wanted to raise the money for some time in the name of Bill and Judy,” Halleland said.

Bill and Judy are Bill Hayes and Judy Greiner, former music teachers at Northeast Hamilton. All proceeds are being dedicated to their memory. Admission at the Blairsburg Opera House is a free will donation.

“We just want to help the kids with music and art supplies,” said Halleland, “They always need more help.”

Halleland, who graduated in 1974, is still proud of the school he attended in Blairsburg.

“Northeast Hamilton was a great school that is no longer there,” said Halleland “The old bands did really well, we had a lot of great musicians.”

“We also really had great sports, we were loved for both our sports and music,” he continued, “It was a wonderful time to be there in the 1970’s.”

Chris Furman was Hallelands’ neighbor growing up outside of Blairsburg. Furman graduated from Northeast Hamilton in 1973, with another musician John Stafford, who graduated in 1972. They formed a high school band called “Crash Factory.” Both Furman and Stafford, who has passed away, were named to the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Halleland stays in touch with Furman, and they share the love of music, “He’s one of my best friends,” he said simply when asked how he talked him into performing.

Furman now splits his time each year between Okoboji and Daytona Beach, Florida.

The funds that are raised will be given to the new elementary school principal Sarah Nachazel to use for the elementary music and art supplies. The community will have a chance to meet Nachazel at the beginning of the evening, when she will talk with the public.

At 7 p.m., the stage will be turned over to the Naked Baitfish to sing for the kids of Northeast Hamilton.