In the wake of the devastating fire at Fox Elementary School in the Fan, several of Richmond’s most popular live bands are coming together to play a benefit concert for Richmond Public Schools elementary school music programs.
The bands and musicians on the bill for “Banding Together: A Benefit Concert for RPS Elementary School Music Programs” include No BS! Brass, Fear of Music (Talking Heads Tribute), Prabir Trio, Erin Lunsford, Landon Elliott, and Buenas.
The talent-packed concert takes place at the Broadberry on Saturday, March 5 starting at 8 p.m. The show will use a sliding scale for tickets, starting at $20, and 100% of proceeds will be donated directly to the RPS Education Foundation to purchase musical instruments for RPS elementary schools. You can find more about tickets here.
“This came together when [percussionist] Dusty Ray Simmons connected with me and Lucas Fritz with the idea to create a benefit concert in light of the fire at Fox,” explains Erin Frye, Director of Programs and Outreach at CultureWorks and founder of Gals for a Cause RVA. “I brought a Fox parent and PTA member, Rick Plautz, into the conversation. We determined that, while the fire at Fox was devastating, the momentum and support for Fox opened up an opportunity for us to fundraise to support RPS Elementary Schools as a whole. We know that RPS needs deeper support in many of their schools.”
Frye notes that it makes sense for them “to support music programs since many of us are Richmond-based musicians, have been educated here, and/or have been part of the RVA music scene; we know that music is a conduit for healing and building community.” She adds that they connected with the RPS Education Foundation to ensure all proceeds will be funneled directly into RPS elementary music programs. Tickets will cost $20 with the option to pay more.
In addition, there will also be a “daytime, kid-focused program (2 p.m. doors, 2:30 p.m. show), free for children age 12 and younger, featuring the Diggity Dudes, Jonathan the Juggler, and more.
ALSO OF NOTE: One hundred percent of ticket proceeds from a Friday, March 4 concert at The Camel (1621 W Broad St) featuring Honest Debts and the Jared Stout Band will also be donated to RPS Elementary School Music Programs. Tickets to that show can be found here. Tickets to the March 5 Kid’s show at the Broadberry can be found here.
