ATC, in partnership with Future of Music Coalition, is proud to present Bonerama with Sunpie Barnes and special guests Elvis Perkins, Erin McKeown, Jeanie Schroder (Devotchka), Justin Poree (Ozomatli), Lateef The Truthspeaker, Martín Perna (Antibalas + Ocote Soul), Merrill Garbus (tUnE-yArDs), Spank Rock, Thao Nguyen (Thao And The Get Down Stay Down), and more to perform at the Blue Nile on May 24.
Date: May 24, 2012, Doors at 9:00 pm
Blue Nile (532 Frenchmen Street), New Orleans
Admission is $12 online advance (www.bluenilelive.com); $15 at the door.
The “Dear NOLA” concert is the celebratory finale of the eighth artist activist retreat hosted by Air Traffic Control (www.atctower.net) and the Future of Music Coalition (www.futureofmusic.org) since the Gulf Coast storms of 2005. This retreat brings established and emerging musicians from around the country to New Orleans for four days to meet and visit with some of the city’s notable musicians and community leaders, and to participate in strategy sessions about how to integrate activism and philanthropy into their work as musicians. This show is a benefit for Sweet Home New Orleans and Gulf Restoration Network, two New Orleans-based nonprofits working to support and sustain the region’s unique musical and cultural traditions and to protect and restore vital environmental and community resources for future generations.
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@ATCtower & @future_of_music present Dear NOLA: A Concert for New Orleans on 5/24 @BlueNileLive. More info & tix here: http://bit.ly/JBN9eZ
RT for chance to win pair of tix: Dear NOLA: A Concert for New Orleans returns 5/24 @BlueNileLive. More here: http://bit.ly/JBN9eZ @dearnola
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Full Release below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2012
“DEAR NOLA: A CONCERT FOR NEW ORLEANS” RETURNS TO THE BIG EASY
Bonerama with Sunpie Barnes and special guests Elvis Perkins, Erin McKeown, Jeanie Schroder (Devotchka), Justin Poree (Ozomatli), Lateef The Truthspeaker, Martín Perna (Antibalas + Ocote Soul), Merrill Garbus (tUnE-yArDs), Spank Rock, Thao Nguyen (Thao And The Get Down Stay Down), and more to perform at the Blue Nile on May 24
Musicians from around the country join forces for a special performance to celebrate New Orleans and the community working to sustain it.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – New Orleans’ own Bonerama and Sunpie Barnes will be performing with special guests Elvis Perkins, Erin McKeown, Jeanie Schroder (Devotchka), Justin Poree (Ozomatli), Lateef The Truthspeaker, Martín Perna (Antibalas + Ocote Soul), Merrill Garbus (tUnE-yArDs), Spank Rock, Thao Nguyen (Thao And The Get Down Stay Down), and more for “Dear NOLA: A Concert for New Orleans” – a special evening of music at Blue Nile (532 Frenchmen Street) on Thursday, May 24 at 9pm. This show is a benefit for Sweet Home New Orleans and Gulf Restoration Network, two New Orleans-based nonprofits working to support and sustain the region’s unique musical and cultural traditions and to protect and restore vital environmental and community resources for future generations.
Tickets for the concert are available via www.bluenilelive.com. Admission is $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
The “Dear NOLA” concert is the celebratory finale of the eighth artist activist retreat hosted by Air Traffic Control (www.atctower.net) and the Future of Music Coalition (www.futureofmusic.org) since the Gulf Coast storms of 2005. This retreat brings established and emerging musicians from around the country to New Orleans for four days to meet and visit with some of the city’s notable musicians and community leaders, and participate in strategy sessions about how to integrate activism and philanthropy into their work as musicians.
The closing concert is nothing short of legendary, bringing New Orleans and the world together with one voice to speak loudly on the issues discussed at the retreat through music. In past retreats Bonerama has backed visiting artists such as Steve Earle, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Boots Riley (The Coup), Nicole Atkins, Damian Kulash (OK Go), DJ Spooky, Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie), M1 (Dead Prez), Mirah, Cody ChesnuTT, Wayne Kramer (MC5), Jim James and Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket), Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers), Vijay Iyer, among others. A life-changing event say many of these artists, coupled with a sense of empowerment for what they can further accomplish through their music and activism:
Sage Francis, who participated in last year’s retreat and benefit show, describes his feelings on the experience: New Orleans continues to stay true to its unique local flavor…One of the greatest perks of being a musician is the opportunity to visit this city almost every year, and while on the artist-activist retreat last year, I was able to meet community leaders, learn about the nuances of this beautiful city and the various forces working against its culture and land. Visit it, appreciate it, learn from it, and help however you can, because preserving NOLA will allow for it to continue giving back to us in incalculable, intangible ways.
About Sweet Home New Orleans Sweet Home New Orleans (www.sweethomeneworleans.org) is a nonprofit agency that offers social services and financial assistance to the city’s musicians, Mardi Gras Indians, and Social Aid and Pleasure Club members.
About Gulf Restoration Network Gulf Restoration Network (www.healthygulf.org) is a 17 year-old environmental group committed to uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Since the storms of 2005, they have worked for a national commitment to the restoration of the coastal wetlands of Louisiana, the region’s natural storm protection, which are disappearing at the rate of an acre an hour. The BP drilling disaster has greatly increased threats to this ecosystem, and GRN has provided independent monitoring and advocacy since the first days of the disaster.
About Future of Music Coalition Future of Music Coalition (www.futureofmusic.org) is a national non-profit education, research, and advocacy organization that seeks a bright future for creators and listeners. FMC works towards this goal through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/public interest groups.
About Air Traffic Control ATC (www.atctower.net) exists to help musicians play a potent, unique and vital role in the promotion of social justice. Musicians and managers established ATC in 2004 to assemble an experienced and trusted team of leaders, resources and tools that would help them to create more effective social change collaborations with each other and with social justice organizations. As a result, ATC became an artists’ air traffic control–one that develops capacity, efficiency, and coordination to produce stronger and more creative social change partnerships.
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