Women Cancer Survivors Come Together For Evening Of Music, Love

FRAMINGHAM, MA—Erica Leigh found out she had thyroid cancer the morning of her debut CD release show. The very first thing that went through the singer-songwriter's mind was a rush a overwhelming emotion, a combination of fear, sadness and shock.

"It was traumatic to be woken up on such an important day, to a voice on the other end of the phone saying 'You have widespread thyroid cancer, and it is threatening your ability to speak and sing,'" said Leigh. "I was told that even though the surgery had some risks, if they didn't operate the cancer would soon 'eat away' at the nerves that control my voice and I might not sing again. My voice was already hoarse, and so this frightened me in a way that words can't really describe."

She wouldn't let it stop her from performing the album release show. She kept things quiet and gave it her all.

"It was powerful to have all my family and friends in the room with me.," said Leigh.

Eric Leigh headlines with special guest Kim Moberg on Saturday, March 31, at 8 p.m. at the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham, an evening of uplifting music with two women, both cancer survivors and socially-conscious songwriters performing with an all-female band as part of Women's History Month.

Leigh is an award-winning songwriter and an alumna of Berklee College of Music who grew up in Natick and later in Holliston. Since she nearly lost her ability to sing due to cancer, she's now focusing on using her music to touch and inspire others who share in her struggle.

She has has long awaited the opportunity to perform on The Amazing Things Arts Center stage, and tells Patch she appreciates how it's a venue that does so much for the local arts community.

With her first year of being cancer-free behind her, she feels like a weight has been lifted. Despite a lot of setbacks and some personal losses that unfolded simultaneously, time has brought Leigh some healing. She still suffers from a stiff neck and has nerve damage, but can sing clearer, and "finally feel like myself again."

Opening the show at Amazing Things is Kim Moberg of Cape Cod, whose musical inspiration derives from both traditional and contemporary musical genres of acoustic, roots, folk and country. A self-taught finger pick style acoustic guitarist, she is especially drawn to musical stories that tug at feelings of melancholy, heartbreak and healing.

"It's so exciting to be back in my old familiar stomping grounds, so close to many of the family and friends who have been along with me on the journey so far," said Leigh. "Making my next full band performance here seemed like the perfect choice: an intimate listening room where you can appreciate lyric-driven music."

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