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Published on Wednesday, 13 April 2011 08:14
As everybody knows, Japan has had to deal with the devastation of an earthquake, a tsunami, numerous aftershocks and the threat of nuclear disaster in the last few weeks. A group of Beatles fans and musicians are coming together tomorrow night for a benefit to aid the people of Japan.
Taking the name from the famous Beatles song & film title, tomorrow's event is called "HELP! Japan Fundraiser." The Beatles-themed event will feature many Chicago-based Beatles-influenced musicians. Scheduled to perform tomorrow night are: the Beatles tribute band Britbeat, who will recreate the Beatles final concert in Budokan from 1966, Jay Goeppner and Phil Angotti, who previously performed together for years as "The Beatle Brothers" and were frequent guests on WLUP & WCKG, musician Eric Howell, the Sandalwood Sitar Music Ensemble, who will play Beatles songs Indian-style, and the Harrison Street Ukulele Players.
Chicago's #1 Beatles fan Terri Hemmert -- WXRT-FM midday personality, host of the Sunday broadcast of "Breakfast with the Beatles," and recent inductee to the National Radio Hall of Fame -- will be the host and emcee for the night.
In addition to the great music and presence of Terri Hemmert, there will be a silent auction that will be filled with many Beatles-related items. There are items donated by Mark Hudson, the one-time member of The Hudson Brothers and former producer/band leader for Ringo Starr, as well as items from Beatles photographer Paul Saltzman, The Fest For Beatles Fans organizers Mark & Carol Lapidos, Beatles-themed artwork, Beatles-themed clothing, and much more!
The event was organized by Gigi Wong-Monaco, co-owner of the Wonderwall Music Shoppe & Emporium in Oak Park and a lifelong Beatles fan. Wong-Monaco, a native of Honolulu, HI, described what motivated her to organize this relief concert: "Hawaii and Japan have always had close ties, culturally and professionally. I grew up with Japanese influence all around me. I am part Japanese, on my father's side so this Japan disaster has hit me very hard. It's affected all of us here in the U.S. and globally."
The "HELP! Japan Fundraiser" will be held tomorrow, Thursday, April 14, at 6:00pm at Trattoria 225, located at 225 Harrison Street in Oak Park. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Every dollar raised from ticket sales and from the silent auctions will be going to the American Red Cross' Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Fund.
For more information or to purchase advance tickets, visit this link
HERE.
It promises to be a good night of good music for a good cause.
