Milton turns out for Christine Havrilla benefit

A sold-out crowd packed the Milton Theatre May 18 to say goodbye to one of the community’s most beloved figures.

Popular musician Christine Havrilla died May 14 after a long battle with cancer. Havrilla had stopped performing in April after her condition took a turn, and the May 18 show, called Sirens of Spring, was reconfigured as a benefit event for her, featuring longtime friends Mama’s Black Sheep and Havrilla’s backing band, Gypsy Fuzz, headlining. 

However, after Havrilla’s passing, the show became a celebration of her life. Gypsy Fuzz received a standing ovation after their first song. The set was an emotional affair, with guest stars who had played with Havrilla in the past. 

One of them was Regina Sayles, who had known Havrilla for 20 years and would not have missed this show.

“To be here on a night to be able to pay tribute to her means so much to me. There’s so many musicians that could be standing up there and paying tribute to her, because she was so good at connecting people,” Sayles said. “Christine was the person in Delaware. She was just the definition of musical community. She was not a gatekeeper whatsoever.”

Jenn “Wizzy” Wismer knew Havrilla for a decade, first hearing her perform at a coffee shop by accident. 

“Halfway through the first song, I knew Christine Havrilla was different. There were a handful of songs she played that I connected to and without knowing it, I was also connecting to a community that Christine had built through not just her music, but the extraordinary force that she is. This community as of late has now adopted the name ‘The Rillage,’” she said. 

It was a community that reflected Havrilla’s sensibilities and ethos; it was Havrilla herself who gave Wismer her nickname.

“She is a light that over the course of her career has drawn people to her and together. People that could not be more different, yet hold a likeness, a kindness, a gentleness, that was reflective of the joy and kindness Christine brought to every space she entered. She knew her music was a gift, and giving that to others was something that was so important to her.

“The community she welcomed me into provided me the most important and impactful friendships I have ever had. Her light had guided me from dark places more than once, and that community even connected me to the woman I was meant to marry, giving me the gift of a family I may not have found had I not walked into that coffee shop over a decade ago,” Wismer said.

In a post on Facebook, Havrilla’s widow, Brooke, asked for privacy while the family grieves.

“We know you mean well, but this has been the most traumatic and cruel period of our lives - we need space. There are no exceptions to the rule here. Mama and Papa Rilla lost their daughter. Angela lost her sister. And I lost the love of my life. Please respect our need for privacy after the horrific loss of our precious ray of sunshine,” Brooke wrote.

While direct family members were not in attendance at the May 18 benefit, Havrilla’s friends made sure to do their part to help the family. Al and Mary Knight, better known as Al and Mary Frantic, helped set up a benefit fund for Havrilla’s widow. Mary said the goal is to raise enough money to ensure that Brooke is set up financially for at least a year. She said so far, they have realized half of the $60,000 they plan to raise through the Frantic Music Fund.

Mary said she first met Havrilla in 2018 when the musician came to their store, Frantic Frets. Al and Havrilla had known each other from the New Jersey music scene, and once the Knights moved to Milton, they all connected. Mary said in 2020, she learned about Havrilla’s cancer diagnosis and during the pandemic, she helped organize the first Havrillapalooza show, which was held virtually, to help raise money for Havrilla’s treatment. Once events were allowed outside again, Havrillapalooza became a live, all-day event. 

Mary said after the first Havrillapalooza, she learned that Havrilla had a larger-than-life presence. 

“She’s a big personality. The kindest person you’ve ever met in your life. She made every single fan feel like they were part of a family, part of something bigger,” Mary said.

Al added, “I had such an appreciation for her talent. She was the Looping Goddess. I do looping when I perform, and I can’t do it like her. She was always so nice to us. She was like the musical sister I wanted. All Christine Havrilla songs, even if they were downer songs or anger in the song, it always had this element of being uplifting. She was just awesome.”

Those who want to donate for Havrilla’s benefit fund can go to franticmusic.org and look under Havrilla Fund. Checks can also be made out to Frantic Music Project and sent to 26734 Broadkill Road, Milton, DE 19968, ATTN: Havrilla Fund.