This whole post came from Shaun Groves' blog. It was easier to copy his than to dig through his long email with all the same information in it, put it into readable form and then pass it out into the world. He always does a better job anyway. I even took his headline. Now...how do I get to LA in a few days?
ALL STAR CAST OF MUSICIANS TO GATHER
FOR ‘HELP HAITI LIVE’ ON FEBRUARY 27TH
Alison Krauss & Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas), Amy Grant, Big Kenny and More to Perform Live in Los Angeles and Nashville to Raise Funds for Compassion International’s Continued Relief Efforts
NASHVILLE, TN…2/15/10…One month following the 7.1 earthquake that struck Haiti, an all-star cast of musicians is gathering for “Help Haiti Live,” a two-city ticketed concert event taking place on February 27th, 2010 to benefit Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund. The concerts are sponsored by Gaylord Entertainment Company and will be streamed live at HelpHaitiLive.com.
With extraordinary need still existing in the devastated country, Alison Krauss & Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas), Amy Grant, Big Kenny, Mat Kearney, Jars of Clay, Rebecca St. James, NEEDTOBREATHE, Brandon Heath, and a to-be-announced special headliner will participate in two concert events, live from Los Angeles at the historic Wiltern Theater and at Nashville’s famed and Gaylord-owned Ryman Auditorium. Produced to inspire live concert and on-line audiences to financially support the relief work of Compassion International in Haiti, all talent and production fees have been donated, along with streaming services (Livestream.com), allowing proceeds to go toward Compassion’s disaster relief fund (more details below).
“This cause has been something our employees have taken very close to heart in recent weeks, and they’re thrilled for Gaylord to be involved in such an inspiring event. We’re also proud to support the generous efforts of all the artists who are donating their time and talent to make this concert a success,” said Colin Reed, Chairman and CEO of Gaylord Entertainment Company.
Tickets for each event will range in price from $25-75 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations beginning Monday, February 15th, as well as through The Ryman box office: 800-745-3000 or ryman.com, and through Live Nation for The Wiltern at http://www.livenation.com/venue/the-wiltern-tickets
Nashville/Ryman Auditorium, 7:30pm cst:
Host: Big Kenny (plus performance)
Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
Jars of Clay
Mat Kearney
Dave Barnes
Matt Wertz
Brandon Heath
Los Angeles/Wiltern Theater, 7:30pm pst:
Francis Chan
Special Guest headliner
Amy Grant
Leann Rimes
Rebecca St. James
NEEDTOBREATHE
All net proceeds from HelpHaitiLive.com will go to Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund. All money raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to re-equip Compassion’s local support structure and to provide for the immediate needs of Compassion-assisted children and families.
Compassion has been meeting the physical and spiritual needs of Haitians for more than forty years and will continue to serve them in this time of extreme need. Already Compassion International has supplied more than 15,000 families with clean water, food, blankets, temporary shelter, medical supplies and counseling. Donations will lay bricks, feed, educate, clothe, heal and rebuild Haiti for many months to come.
Compassion International is the world’s largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 26 of the world’s poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works holistically through local churches to address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children, enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator, has awarded Compassion its highest rating “four stars” for eight consecutive years.
“Help Haiti Live” is owned by Compassion International and will be produced by Shaun Groves and Synergy Production Group.
Synergy Production Group creates and produces live events that connect audiences with brands or causes. Offering turn-key event solutions, strategic content development, creative design, audio, video and lighting production, talent procurement and complete program management, Synergy Production Group is based in Franklin, TN (www.synergyprg.com).
Gaylord Entertainment Company has taken an active and immediate role in supporting earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti. In addition to its involvement in the Help Haiti Live concert event, Gaylord is providing direct aid to family members of employees who live in Haiti through its STAR Assistance Program. The company also provided financial support to the American Red Cross’s relief efforts and is currently working with Harvest Time International in Florida as well as the Salvation Army to transport thousands of pounds of food, clothing, and household goods donated by its STARS (employees) to the hardest-hit areas of the island nation
ARTIST & VENUE information:
About Alison Krauss and Union Station: Multiple Grammy winning artist Alison Krauss and Union Station are excited to a couple of years, and are currently in the studio working on a new album–their first band album since 2004’s “Lonely Runs Both Ways.” This is one of only a few appearances that the band will make this year. (www.alisonkrauss.com/site.php)
About Amy Grant: Amy Grant’s career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality, and philanthropist. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums and won six GRAMMY® Awards in multiple categories, beginning with the platinum selling Age to Age in 1982. She also has six #1 hits, including “Baby, Baby,” and “Every Heartbeat” and is one of only two Christian artists to be awarded a star on the legendary Walk of Fame in Hollywood.(www.amygrant.com)
About BIG KENNY: As one half of the super duo Big & Rich, “Big Kenny” Alphin sold in excess of five million albums, opened sold-out stadium tours for Kenny Chesney, hit the amphitheaters with Tim McGraw, graced the covers of Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Country Weekly and was featured in such magazines as Rolling Stone, People and many others. Also an accomplished songwriter, Big Kenny was named the BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2005, and has written several top 10 hits for artists such as Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, and Jason Aldean. Now, the Culpeper, Virginia, native is celebrating the release of his latest solo effort, The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy, (November 2009). (www.bigkennytv.com)
About Jars of Clay: Jars of Clay launched its breakout career with the multi-format hit “Flood” in 1995. Since then, it’s amassed more than six million in career sales (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 double Platinum certification), 3 GRAMMY Awards (from 8 nominations), an American Music Award nod, 17 No. 1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. Compelled to make a difference with needs to around the world, the band founded Blood:Water Mission in early 2002. Blood:water mission empowers communities to work together against the Water & HIV/AIDS crises in Africa. (www.jarsofclay.com and www.bloodwatermission.com).
About Mat Kearney: After spending five years traveling the country establishing himself as a new artist supporting his first release, Nothing Left To Lose, Mat Kearney dug his roots into his new hometown of Nashville, TN, and cultivated the tracks for City of Black & White, released in May 2009 on Aware/Columbia Records. He opened up the writing process to friends and to the community of musicians in Nashville, and crafted hit songs such as “Closer To Love,” “Here We Go,” and “Lifeline.” Kearney was a VH1 You Oughta Know Artist, headlined the first VH1 You Oughta Know Tour, and his video for the single “Nothing Left To Lose” tied the record for the most weeks in rotation (45) on VH1. His songs have received prominent television licensing on popular shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Friday Night Lights, Army Wives and more. (www.matkearney.com)
About Rebecca St. James: Australian born Rebecca St. James is both a Grammy Award winner and multiple Dove Award recipient, who can count her lead acting role in the November ‘09 film release Sarah’s Choice, among her most recent career highlights. She has received RIAA certified gold album awards—for her ground-breaking album God and her Grammy Award winning project Pray, certified gold in 2006 and has had seventeen Top 10 singles–nine of which have reached the #1 spot on the charts to date. In addition to music, Rebecca is a best selling author, with more than a half dozen books to her credit—including Wait For Me (Thomas Nelson) which has sold more than 100,000 units, Pure(Hachette/Faithwords)which reached Top 10 on the CBA Bestseller List in February 2009 and her latest book, Loved (Hachette/Faithwords)(www.rebeccastjames.com).
About Brandon Heath: Emmy-Award winning, GRAMMY and American Music Award nominated, Brandon Heath holds multiple Dove Awards including the Male Vocalist and Song of the Year (2009) categories. Heath released his sophomore album, What If We (8/2008), yielding two No.1 singles, “Wait and See”, and the blockbuster “Give Me Your Eyes” which was selected by NASA this week as the wake-up song for the orbiting Endeavour shuttle crew on Feb. 8. The album’s third single “Love Never Fails” moves into Top 20 at Billboard’s AC Monitored radio chart this week. Heath’s 2006 debut, Don’t Get Comfortable, produced the radio No.1 hit, “I’m Not Who I Was,” which contributed to his New Artist of the Year Dove Award win. Heath has been covered by The New York Times and “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.” (www.brandonheath.net)
About NEEDTOBREATHE: Formed in 1999, South Carolina based rock band NEEDTOBREATHE made a name for themselves with constant touring. Upon signing to Atlantic, the band released its debut album, “DAYLIGHT” and toured harder than ever following the album’s 2006 release. The band returned the following year with “THE HEAT,” which reached #2 on Billboard’s “Top Heatseekers” chart thanks in part to their top 10 Triple A hit single “More Time” and its inclusion in the movie “P.S. I Love You.” NEEDTOBREATHE recently announced their “Won’t Turn Back Tour” beginning Mar. 3 which celebrates their third album, “THE OUTSIDERS,” released last summer to universal critical acclaim and a top 20 debut on the Billboard Top 200. The “Won’t Turn Back Tour” follows last year’s successful headline tour which included sold-out shows in virtually every market visited. NEEDTOBREATHE has also been invited to play Bonnaroo 2010 this coming summer. (www.needtobreathe.net)
About Dave Barnes: Mississippi-bred, Nashville Based Dave Barnes is not only known for his soulful pop tunes, but also for his comedic story-telling abilities, as can be seen in numerous, frequently-viewed posts on YouTube. Armed with an acoustic guitar, clean-cut good looks and a knack for catchy hooks, Dave Barnes can do it all. (www.davebarnes.com
About Matt Wertz: Over the past 9 years, Nashville resident Matt Wertz has built an incredible story as an independent musician. With four records to his credit and sales of over 75,000, Matt has seen his career grow tremendously through constant touring, commercial radio airplay and having his songs featured in numerous television shows and films. In addition to music, Matt is also passionate about community needs around the world. In 2005, Matt helped launch an organization called the Mocha Club, who’s vision is to provide funding for releif and development projects in Africa. Mocha Club’s five main project areas are: Clean water, Education, Child Mothers, Orphan Care, Healthcare. (www.mattwertz.com)
About the Ryman Auditorium: A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman Auditorium was built as a church in 1892, served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-74, and was completely renovated in 1994. The Ryman is open as a museum during the day and at night continues its more-than-100-year music tradition by offering the best in live entertainment. The Ryman Auditorium is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment company that owns and operates Gaylord Hotels and the Grand Ole Opry. (www.ryman.com)
About the Wiltern Theater: The Wiltern Theatre first opened its doors to the action picture crowds on October 7th, 1931. Recognized by the City of Los Angeles as a Historic Cultural Monument, this Art Deco Landmark was refurbished and restored to its creative brilliance in 1985, under the bearing of Bill Graham Presents. Following a famous history of performances and actions, a $1.5 million facelift led to the Grand Re-Opening on October 15, 2002.
