We are proud to present the release of the second edition of "HOMEvan: A Gainesville Music Benefit for the Homeless". With the mounting economic crisis, the most needy of our community have come upon particularly hard times. Homelessness is at an all-time high in Gainesville, as more people than ever before are finding themselves forced to live on the streets. In the past two years, the number of men, women and children without housing in our community has jumped 70%, to more than 1,600.
Gainesville musicians, recognizing our community’s growing hardships, have come together to present a compilation of Gainesville’s best and brightest bands to raise awareness for a local organization’s efforts to alleviate the growing plight.
HOMEvan, founded in 2002 by Arupa and Bob Freeman and other community activists, is a grassroots, volunteer-run outreach group providing a variety of services for the homeless, poor, and disenfranchised of Gainesville. Twice each week, rain or shine, HOMEvan's volunteers bring a nutritious bagged meal, soup, clothes, hygiene products, and (what many need most of all) an un-judging and compassionate ear.
A series of CD release benefit concerts will accompany the release of the compilation in order that they may raise awareness and funds. The line-up is as follows:
Sunday April 5th Common Grounds: The Duppies, Chupaskabra, The Damn Wrights, Battle!, Lars Din
Sunday April 26th Common Grounds: Grabass Charlestons, Liquid Limbs, Spanish Gamble (f.k.a. Dirty Money), Crash Pad.
Saturday May 23rd Atlantic: Averkiou, CYNE, Scum of the Earth, Cassette, and No More.
Saturday, June 20th: Bands TBA
The shows will feature raffle prizes from local merchants and information from a variety of grassroots groups. Organizers are requesting attendees bring donations of peanut butter and/or white socks to the shows for distribution by the HOMEvan.
For interviews about the compilation or accompanying events, please call Dan Fitzpatrick at 352-682-3413 or Erica Carlsson at 727-244-7133. For more information on homelessness in Gainesville, contact Jon DeCarmine at the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless & Hungry, 352-494-3955.
The first homevan comp was amazing and a really good representation of the music community. I'm sure this one wont disappoint.
and props to Dan for getting this whole thing together!
I'm really not sure how this will ultimately be used, but i'm up for suggestions. I know that i'd hate to do this manually every day, but i think a quick show listing or at least a place where people can tweet questions to gbdc could be useful.
and it turns out that it's the Grand Opening as well!
the kickstand wrote:
Gainesville's Community Bike Shop Celebrates Birthday, Grand Opening
The Kickstand, Gainesville's only community bicycle shop, will host a
three-day event celebrating their one year anniversary and official grand
opening. The Kickstand has scheduled events in support of their mission,
to help more Gainesville residents ride and repair their own bikes.
The public is invited to join Kickstand supporters for a Critical Mass
ride on Friday, January 30th at 5pm, in the Plaza of the Americas at the
UF campus. The ride ends at The Kickstand, 722 S. Main St, with live
music featuring Umoja Orchestra, Rio de la Muerte, The Damsels, Giuseppe,
and Sea Grapes.
The shop opens to the public at noon on Saturday, January 31st with a
pancake breakfast, kids carnival and basic bike repair workshop. At
2:30pm the all-volunteer organization will host an alleycat race for
prizes and a family funride.
Live music featuring The Damn Wrights, Big Boat, Rob Coe, Jezebel Graham
and Jon Decarmine along with non-cycling entertainment are scheduled
after 4pm.
The suggested $5 to $10 donation supports The Kickstand.
The Kickstand houses the Gainesville Community Bicycle Project, a non-
profit organization established to provide free or inexpensive bicycle-
related services to all persons without discrimination. They hope to
help Gainesville residents find reliable bicycles and to provide access
to knowledgeable volunteers and quality tools.
More information can be found on our website
http://www.thekickstand.org.
I know that they are still looking for volunteers for saturday to help
out with the allycat from 3 to 5. drop me a line if you can help out!
And with the season quickly approaching, I wanted to give an open invitation to everyone to spend time with friends and complete strangers at this years...
GLYPHMAS!
December 24th (Christmas eve) at my home in beautiful Northwest Gainesville.
I'd love for you... yes you to come. Even if i dont know you. Believe me, I know how much it sucks to be away from home and alone on christmas eve, which is the whole reason i do this.
And for those who are traveling to see family, and cant make it, please be safe. And remember how blessed you are to have people that love and care about you.
