Billie Eilish leads coalition against gun violence
A number of artists including Billie Eilish, Peter Gabriel and Sheryl Crow have joined a coalition of musicians called Artist for Action to Prevent Gun Violence.
The alliance, which also includes Nile Rodgers, Bootsy Collins, Sofi Tukker, Rufus Wainwright and Bush, is designed to inspire people to volunteer, donate and vote to end the epidemic of gun violence in the US.
Led by musician Mark Barden, whose son was one of the 26 people murdered in the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, Artist for Action also includes the Pixies, LP, Old Crow Medicine Show, Halestorm, Rozzi, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town and more.
The organisation is launching with a series of live events, including a performance by Bush and special guests, at New York’s Irving Plaza on 22 September.
“As a community of artists, we need to band together to make common sense change”
Presented by AFA (Artist For Artist), the first concert is designed to raise awareness for the coalition and Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“After my son Daniel was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I put my career as a professional guitarist on hold to devote myself to preventing gun violence,” Barden said. “Please join me and hundreds of other artists, musicians, actors, athletes, and people like you to finally end this senseless violence.”
“This needs to stop,” said Peter Gabriel. “So many needless deaths. So much suffering. It just needs a little common sense.”
Billie Eilish adds: “As a community of artists, we need to band together to make common sense change.”
Further concerts are planned for December to celebrate the release of the film that led to the creation of Artist for Action to Prevent Gun Violence: A Father’s Promise, as well as one next summer at Central Park SummerStage around Gun Violence Awareness Month.
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Live Nation details inaugural FairWell festival
Live Nation has unveiled the maiden edition of FairWell festival, taking place in Oregon (US) this July.
Sheryl Crow, Zach Bryan, Willie Nelson & Family, Turnpike Troubadours, Gary Clark Jr. and Mt. Joy will perform at Deschutes County Fairgrounds in the heart of the High Desert in Central Oregon between 21–23 July for the event.
Over 36 artists in the folk, blues, rock, country, and soul spheres will perform across three stages for the three-day festival.
Over 36 artists in the folk, blues, rock, country, and soul spheres will perform across three stages for the three-day festival
According to Live Nation, the festival will celebrate its “native Oregon spirit by bringing fans a range of locally sourced culinary options such as a craft beer hall, an exceptional wine experience with a curated selection, and an array of cuisine from local favourites, as well as unique fan experiences including a local craft market, fairground attractions, and more.”
Morgan Wade, Trampled By Turtles, Yola, Band of Horses, Luke Grimes and Charley Crockett are also slated to perform at FairWell festival, which starts at US$199 for three-day GA tickets.
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Woman sentenced for promoting bogus Sheryl Crow show
A New Jersey woman has pled guilty to ‘third-degree theft by deception’ after being caught selling tickets to a non-existent Sheryl Crow concert.
Burlington Township resident Kelly Bryan admitted the charge at Burlington County Courthouse in Mount Holly yesterday. The Burlington County Times reports that Bryan faces up to five years of probation when she is sentenced on 14 June, and will also have to pay between US$20,000 and $30,000 in restitution.
The phoney concert was supposed to have taken place at the Flying W Airport resort in Lumberton – really an airstrip for small prop planes – on 15 August 2015. Between December 2014 and May 2015, Bryan sold tickets to the ‘show’ through a company called KBR Promotion and Booking Agency (presumably for Kelly Bryan, although it also apparently stood for Kreate Bands Realitiy [sic]) and even booked vendors.
However, when Lumberton police learnt of the concert in May and contacted the resort to begin planning public safety measures, it emerged that Crow was not booked to perform.
Between 50 and 100 people were defrauded by KBR, although many who paid online have already been reimbursed.