A few years ago Melbourne blues man Greg Dodd, came up with “Blues for Lost Souls.” This was a gig to raise money for the homeless, and it started from a raising few hundred dollars to being so successful that last year they raised enough money to buy a van for Father Bob’s operation.
It also inspired a couple of similar events, one over in Gippsland, and now the Sleepy Hollow Blues Club is putting its shoulder to the wheel and turning over its July gig to run a “Blues for Blankets” event down here in Geelong.
The aim of the event is to raise funds to support the homeless in the Geelong region. The beneficiary of all funds raised at “Blues for Blankets” will be the Geelong organisation “The Road Home”. The Road Home works in conjunction with the Barwon South West Homelessness Network to provide swags, blankets and hygiene products directly to the Geelong homeless.
On any given night over 105,000 Australians are experiencing homelessness, of these nearly 45% are under 25 years of age.
There are many causes of homelessness, some of the more well known causes include domestic violence and family breakdown, physical or mental health issues or unemployment. All too often these days, we are seeing poverty and just a lack of affordable housing becoming more common causes.
Issues facing these vulnerable people are:
* No secure place to call home
* Poor personal security
* Obtaining and storing food
* Hygiene issues
* Loss of relationships
* Limited access to education, banking and communication devices
* Suffering chronic illnesses
* Suffering mental health issues
Having a home can often mean having hope.
Performers will include: Blue Sunday; Brian Fraser Band; Buxom Blues; Derek & the Champs; Kevin Hay MO & The Pea; Mud Peas; Righteous Desmond; The Billy Tea Bush Band; The Von Robertsons; Wayne Jury.
These bands include some of the best blues musicians in the district.
Brian Fraser is a Geelong legend, Marco Goldsmith has been hitting the headlines with Blue Heat for many years and is now resident in Geelong and playing with Blue Sunday. Wayne Jury is a major name in the Australian music scene, and is a tireless worker with young musicians.
If you have been visiting Pistol Pete’s Derek and the Champs, and Buxom Blues should not be strangers.
The whole list are fantastic musicians, and worth it just for that, let alone the generous contributions they, and you can make.
Find out more about The Road Home at www.theroadhome.net.au.
You can get tickets at www.trybooking.com/LYTT.
Non-alcoholic drinks (soft drinks, water, coffee, tea etc.) and hot food (sausage sizzle) will be available for sale within the concert venue. Other BYO refreshments may be brought into the venue
Tickets are $20 adults, $10 concession (students, pensioners or other with concession card), children under 15 are free.
Tickets will also be available at the door. The event will be held between 2pm and 8pm on Sunday July 24 2016. Doors open at 1.30pm. This time, don’t do yourself a favour, it’s time to do someone else a favour.
Proudly presented by the Sleepy Hollow Blues Club
Written by John (Dr John) Lamp
