Muse Music Online

N E W S

Local Musicians to Raise Money for 'Invisible Children'

April 9, 2007

The collaboration of live music and awareness was anything but invisible at the Invisible Children benefit concert at Muse Music on Saturday night, April 11, 2007.

"It was a great concert for a great cause," said Elizabeth Guthrie, of Austin, Texas, majoring in German. "The music was a lot of fun to listen to and the whole event made me want to donate for a good cause."

Individuals gathered at Muse Music to raise money and awareness for the "invisible children" of Uganda. The event started with a screening of the well-known documentary that has made many students conscious and proactive about Ugandan children forced to fight in a rebel military.

"We are trying to raise money to build a high school in Uganda," said Kerstin Zielke, from Temple, Texas, majoring in humanities. "These kids have never seen peace in their lifetime."

The remainder of the evening was spent dancing and rocking out to live music provided by local bands: Longley Drive, Smoking Guns and More. The bands played for free, donating all proceeds to the charitable cause.

Starry Night, a music venue in the heart of Provo at 200 West and Center Street, will host a second benefit concert tonight at 7. The concert will be similar to last Saturday's but with a whole new line up of bands including Drop Dead Julio, Forgotten Charity and Ease.

"Invisible Children is not just about Africa," said David Boyd, of Farmington, majoring in economics. "It is about getting Utah County kids active" in helping others.

Boyd spent the last month creating two CDs to sell at the benefit concerts. Each CD costs $3 and contains 15 songs from local bands, including those who played at Muse Music and those performing tonight at Starry Night.

"This money goes straight to building a high school," Boyd said. "Each CD purchased is going directly to a fund and 94 percent of the purchase price goes directly to the school."

The money will be used to renovate buildings and build dormitories for the high school. It will also go toward books, supplies, technology and teacher training.

"Raising the money is really just secondary to getting people to know about it," said Chris Ward, from Salt Lake City, majoring in geography. "If people want to get involved, we are here. You are not just on your own."

Getting involved on a basic level makes a difference in people's lives, and listening to good music is something most people enjoy on any level.

"One person can make a difference," said Rachel Okura, a freshman from Hilo, Hawaii. "Find your passion and try to change the world."

Admission is $5, and T -shirts, the Invisible Children documentary and the Invisible Children Benefit CDs will also be for sale.

Source: BYU NewsNet

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/63982