A Grammy-nominated country artist will be performing at an Arlington homeless shelter as part of a nationwide fundraising tour.
Singer-songwriter Steven Cade’s “Giving Guitars Tour” will be coming to Bridges to Independence on Monday, featuring a performance and a Q&A as well as the donation of a signed guitar.
Since 2021, the Giving Guitars Tour has visited over 140 organizations in 22 states and three countries, helping to raise over $250,000 for these groups. It recently launched a charitable web hosting platform, Beluga Host.
“It’s just been a real great journey in terms of inspiring people through the gift of music,” Cade told ARLnow. “Music is powerful. It’s with us and it heals us and it’s an atmosphere breaker. It’s a connector; it’s so infectious.”
Shelters that receive Cade’s guitars often go on to use them in resident programming such as music therapy workshops.
“I just feel there’s a calling in my life,” the Nashville-based artist said. “[My family and I] love to see people light up, because when you go to these shelters, no one really pays attention to them … who’s going to visit them, and who’s going to try to lift them up and inspire them?”
Cade’s visit to Arlington will be his last in a series of Giving Guitars Tour stops over the next week.
While in the area, the artist plans to perform at venues in Fredericksburg, Bethesda and Gaithersburg, Md. this weekend. He is currently promoting his new single, “Fall For You.”
Giving Guitars has about 50 shows ahead for the rest of the year, but the busy schedule comes naturally for Cade, who has shared a stage with the likes of Keith Urban and Darius Rucker.
The artist said his biggest motivators are faith and a sense of compassion for others.
“I know what it feels like to have people encourage you and want to help you, and that is a big deal,” Cade said. “I just love to give back in that way.”
Bridges to Independence offers shelter, housing assistance, workforce development and related programs with a goal of ending systemic poverty. Last year, it provided shelter to 129 people.
