Tears welled up in Jennifer Hermann’s light green eyes as she talked of her father.

She apologized as she spoke of his passing a year ago this past October. The cause was brain cancer.

Since his death, Hermann, along with her niece, has wanted to do something to raise public awareness about cancer. Wednesday night, a benefit concert featuring four local bands will be held at the Kent Stage.

“I decided this is probably a really good opportunity for me to link up this idea my niece had and do a benefit concert,” Hermann said.

The Hopsichord Concert for Cancer Research begins at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Woody’s, Spin-More Records and at the door of the Kent Stage. Those age 15 or under get in free when accompanied by an adult.

A featured beer, Hopsichord, will be on tap as well. The ale was made by winners of Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp, including Hermann, at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, Calif.

“This special, unique beer will be in Kent for a couple hours,” Hermann said.

While enjoying the one-of-a-kind beer, attendees will also enjoy the sounds of The TwistOffs, Root Doctor’s Revenge, the Kent African Drum Community and Xtra Crispy.

“It’s a really good mixture of music,” Hermann said. “It’s more like an event where families wouldn’t be scared to bring their kids.”

The concert, in many ways, is not only to benefit cancer research but for Hermann herself.

“I think this is kind of cathartic for me to be able to do something…it’s tough,” she said. “But I also think when I won that contest, my dad would have been so proud of me that I had this experience because I’ve been into beer for so long. And when I was thinking about it, the one person I would want more than anybody to have this beer would be my dad.”

Hermann’s father died of Stage 4 brain cancer at the age of 62. The two shared a similar interest in brewing beer and once made their own batch.

“If I can’t share with my dad, what am I supposed to do with it? The more I thought about it, the more I thought I could use that experience and do something good,” Hermann said.

If the concert goes well, she said she hopes it will become an annual event at the Kent Stage.

All Hopsichord and admission proceeds will benefit the Cancer Research Foundation, chosen because of its multi-cancer outreach and support.

Contact Laura Lofgren at [email protected].