Next Tuesday, November 9 a beautiful marriage of sound and purpose will take place at the Capitol Theater. You’re cordially invited to attend the very first Madison performance of the talented Playing For Change Band. This special concert brings street musicians from all over the world together on one stage to share the joy of music. One dollar from every ticket sold will benefit the Playing For Change Foundation, “dedicated to connecting the world through music by providing resources (including, but not limited to facilities, supplies, and educational programs) to musicians and their communities around the world.”
We couldn’t be more proud to help present this concert, and we sincerely hope that our readers will share our enthusiasm for this important cause. Read on to find out more about Playing For Change, and to find out how you can win a pair of tickets to the show AND passes to the band’s post-show Meet & Greet.
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Tuesday, November 9, 2010
PLAYING FOR CHANGE
Capitol Theater – 7:30pm – $36 advance and dos – all ages
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ABOUT (from PlayingForChange.com):
The Inspiration
Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.
The Production
We built a mobile recording studio, equipped with all the same equipment used in the best studios, and traveled to wherever the music took us. As technology changed, our power demands were downsized from golf cart batteries to car batteries, and finally to laptops. Similarly, the quality with which we were able to film and document the project was gradually upgraded from a variety of formats– each the best we could attain at the time—finally to full HD.
One thing that never changed throughout the process was our commitment to create an environment for the musicians in which they could create freely and that placed no barriers between them and those who would eventually experience their music. By leading with that energy and intent everywhere we traveled, we were freely given access to musicians and locations that are usually inaccessible. In this respect, the inspiration that originally set us on this path became a co-creator of the project along with us!
The Effect
Over the course of this project, we decided it was not enough for our crew just to record and share this music with the world; we wanted to create a way to give back to the musicians and their communities that had shared so much with us. And so in 2007 we created the Playing for Change Foundation, a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation whose mission is to do just that. In early 2008, we established Timeless Media, a for-profit entity that funds and extends the work of Playing for Change. Later that year, Timeless Media entered into a joint venture with the Concord Music Group through the support of label co-owner and entertainment legend Norman Lear and Concord Music Group executive vice president of A&R John Burk. Our goal is to bring PFC’s music, videos and message to the widest possible audience.
Now, musicians from all over the world are brought together to perform benefit concerts that build music and art schools in communities that are in need of inspiration and hope. In addition to benefit concerts, the Playing for Change band also performs shows around the world. When audiences see and hear musicians who have traveled thousands of miles from their homes, united in purpose and chorus on one stage, everyone is touched by music’s unifying power.
And now, everyone can participate in this transformative experience by joining the Playing for Change Movement. People are hosting screenings, musicians are holding benefit concerts of every size, fans are spreading the message of Playing for Change through our media, and this is only the beginning. Together, we will connect the world through music!
The Band
Musicians from different cultures uniting together for the common purpose of peace through music is a powerful statement. For the past four years Playing For Change has traveled the world with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of such inspiration. Throughout the journey we created a family of over 100 musicians from all walks of life. We connect these musicians together with “Songs Around The World.” The Playing For Change Band is the next chapter in our story. Now people everywhere can witness first hand the transformational power of music and love that comes from the Playing For Change Band.
Their 2010 fall tour is highlighted by the addition of famed Senegalese guitarist Ilon Ba (Baaba Maal) to the stellar Playing For Change band which includes percussionist Mohammed Alidu (Northern Ghana), vocalist Clarence Bekker (Netherlands/Suriname), vocals/harmonica Grandpa Elliott (New Orleans), vocals/percussionist Mermans Kenkosenki (DRC Congo), guitarist Jason Tamba (Kinshasa, the capital of DRC Congo) and vocalist Titi Tsira (Gugulethu, African township in the Western Cape). In addition, PFC is currently in the midst of planning an extensive international tour in 2011, details and confirmed dates will be announced in the near future.
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WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE PLAYING FOR CHANGE CONCERT AND POST-CONCERT MEET & GREET:
We’re going to give this contest a slightly different spin than usual. We’d like to ask our readers to nominate somebody in their community to win the contest. Do you know a friend, co-worker, relative, teacher, or community member that deserves a night off? Tell us about a local who creates positive change through their day-today lifestyle. If we choose your nominee you will each receive a pair of tickets to the show and the meet and greet.
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Please have your responses in by Saturday, November 6 at 8:00pm. We will choose and notify the winners shortly thereafter. Good luck everyone!
Filed under: Free Madison Concert Tickets & MP3 Downloads, Music Shows This Week in Madison, Reggae Tagged: | madison wi capitol theater, Madison WI concerts, madison wi meet and greet, Madison WI ticket giveaway, Playing For Change
I would like to nominate Seema Kapani. She is a powerhouse for social justice in our community. Her positive methods & organization of UW Leadership Institute creates a ripple of good that is nothing but infectious.
Awww I love that phrase: “a ripple of good.”
I would like to nominate my mom, Monica Sanders. Now I am aware of the fact that most people reading this would throw my ballet away just because this is my own flesh and blood. But this is beside the case. Last February while on the job she had a seizure. She was taken to two different hospitals and had many tests done to see what was wrong. Well she had a brain tumor and possible brain cancer. If she lived with it she would die, but if she went through the operation she would still have a chance of dying. She went through the operations and was tougher about it than everyone around her. She went onto months and months of therapy to get back to where she once was. Even though she still is getting back to normal, she is expected to keep going further on the road to recovery. Luckily she has been able to overcome her disability and return back to work. She is a cook at the local high school, and everyone always says how she is the one that is always able to make them smile or laugh. Everyday she returns home saying how hard work was and how tired she is but how she will not ever give up because it is for something bigger than her.
Most of us are familiar with the “butterfly effect” metaphor which, in its essence, illustrates that small acts can make an enormous difference. At its most positive, it’s also an apt metaphor for my friend, Mandy Christoph. Like her, the butterfly flaps its wings naturally, continuously—and silently. All the while, she makes a huge impact in the lives of those around her, and in the lives of those she does not even know. On a global level, she volunteers for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. On a local level, she recently rolled up her sleeves for Project Home’s “Hammer with a Heart.” On a personal level, she has a unique ability to connect people by building bridges that span race, background, politics, personal interests, and other differences that might otherwise keep them from joining hands. This is a mere sample, but it’s enough to understand how her “effect” creates positive change on a daily basis. And since a butterfly flaps its wings silently, she never points to these small acts of love. This is why I’m happy to be the one to point to her, by way of nomination.
Thank you very much Jason. You make me sound like a saint! It really comes down to someone asking for help, and I do what any good friend would do- I volunteer my time for their cause. It’s just good karma
But nonetheless I am very grateful that your kind gesture results in us going to this show I wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise. Thanks again!
Since you guys all made such moving, thoughtful nominations, we’re awarding a pair of tickets to all of you! Ian and his mom won an invitation to the post show meet and greet.
We hope you enjoy the show! Please let us know what you think of the event.