Live Music Lifts Spirits at Tuskegee VA Campus
By Tramel Garrett, Public Affairs Specialist
Veterans receiving inpatient care at the Tuskegee campus of the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System were treated to a live acoustic performance by the Dark Waters Project on July 7, 2025, as part of the Veterans Concert Project.
The husband-and-wife duo, Adam and Cherish Hamby, performed a mix of folk rock and Americana songs in the inpatient recreation area. The performance was open to all hospitalized Veterans and offered a moment of connection through music and storytelling.
The Veterans Concert Project is a national initiative that brings professional musicians to Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers to promote healing and morale through live music. It focuses on creating meaningful experiences for Veterans by using music as a therapeutic tool in care settings.
This marks the second consecutive year the Dark Waters Project has performed at the Tuskegee campus. The Hambys said they feel honored to play for Veterans and are committed to supporting military communities through their music.
Live music is increasingly used in medical settings to support patient well-being. Studies published in journals such as Frontiers in Psychology and the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine have shown that music can reduce anxiety, support pain management, and improve overall mood.
“Every note played here today was a reminder that healing doesn’t just come through medicine,” said CAVHCS Associate Director Stephen Sheets. “It also comes through connection, kindness, and the simple power of music.”
The event reflects CAVHCS’s commitment to whole health programming that addresses the physical, emotional, and social needs of Veterans in its care.