For the past 25 years, the Live From Bloomington project has combined the efforts of local musical talent with its dedication to creating hunger awareness throughout the community of Bloomington, Ind. This year’s concept album, the Brio Pop Society’s Songs of Indiana, is Live From Bloomington’s 25th anniversary celebration of music and philanthropy.
Student songwriters, singers, and composers from Indiana University’s Jacob School of Music composed the album’s songs, and all songs are performed by local Bloomington bands.
On Friday, January 21, a presentation of these collaborative efforts will be on display at the Buskirk Chumley Auditorium along with headlining national recording artist—and Bloomington’s own—Murder By Death, in a concert to help promote musical unity and hunger awareness.
Concert tickets are available for $12 or $10 with donation of two canned goods at the time of purchase at the Buskirk Chumley theater box office, or $12 online.
Songs of Indiana will be sold at the concert January 21, 2010 and will also be available for purchase on iTunes.
Since the project’s inception in 1986, $75,000 and a quarter of a million pounds of food have been raised for Hoosier Hills Food Bank in Bloomington from the proceeds of the annual Live From Bloomington record projects.
“At the January concert, audience members will be encouraged to bring canned goods, and all ticket revenue will be donated to Hoosier Hills,” says Caroline Shurig, the director of the 2010 Live From Bloomington project. “I know this performance will shine a new light on this historic project and invigorate the community to help us help the hungry.”
In addition to the Friday night concert event, the annual Live From Bloomington Club Night will be held on Saturday, January 22 at the legendary Bluebird Night Club, featuring local Bloomington and LFB alumni bands, The Pharos and Jenn Cristy. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 or $3 with the donation of two canned goods. The club night will be co-emceed by WTTS-FM and B97-FM.
The annual Live From Bloomington Food Drive for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank is scheduled for the week of January 16 and Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan has proclaimed that week “Live From Bloomington Hunger Awareness Week” in honor of the project’s 25th anniversary.
“We are so grateful for the unwavering support from this committed student organization. Their events reach the student body and the community, bringing awareness to our cause year after year,” says Dan Taylor from Hoosier Hills Food Bank.
Selected locations in the community will provide canned food drives and merchandise specials with partial proceeds benefiting Hoosier Hills. WTTS-FM and B-97 will join the effort in creating awareness for the food drives and both concert events.
Over the past 25 years, the Live From Bloomington project has showcased and featured the impressive musical talents of John Plenge (ASCAP, OBIE and NYSCA award winning composer, sound designer and music producer); Shawn Pelton (drummer for Saturday Night Live, Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys); Crystal Taliefero (John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel); Jeff Jacobs (Foreigner, Billy Joel); Eric Deggans (St. Petersburg Times); and Donna Taylor (Burt Bacharach).
For more information, visit myspace.com/livefrombloomington.
