BLUEGRASS GOSPEL PROJECT CONCERT TO BENEFIT VERMONT FOODBANK

Barre, VT, September 18, 2006 – Lending support to the Vermont Foodbank’s fight to end hunger in the state, New England’s premier bluegrass band, the Bluegrass Gospel Project (BGP), will play the historic Latchis Theatre in downtown Brattleboro on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m.  The talented group of musicians will perform their unique blend of bluegrass, country and folk songs that are infused with strands of gospel.   Proceeds from the band’s Northeast tour support organizations committed to addressing hunger and homelessness around the region.

The Vermont Foodbank, the only food bank in the state, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.  In 2005, the Foodbank acquired and distributed 6.1 million pounds of food to 140,000 Vermonters through its 270 Network Partners.  These Network Partners are food shelves, food pantries, after school programs, group homes, meal sites, and senior centers across Vermont.  In Windham County, the Foodbank works with 20 Network Partners, including the Women’s Community Center, the Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center, the Brattleboro Retreat, and the Great Falls Community Kitchen.  

Deborah Flateman, the chief executive officer of the Vermont Foodbank said, “We are hoping that the Bluegrass Gospel concert – the first of its kind ever held for the Vermont Foodbank’s benefit in Windham County – will give our organization an opportunity to inform folks that we are a key player working in tandem with local anti-hunger agencies.  So far, the outpouring of support by businesses and individuals in the Brattleboro area has been overwhelming.”

Bluegrass Gospel Project member Patti Casey said she has always enjoyed performing, both for the personal satisfaction and for the connection with audiences.  However, Casey said that the band is increasingly performing on behalf of churches and other organizations who share a mission of “making a difference” for others.  “It’s wonderful to be a part of something much larger than our band and our immediate audience, but to be a part of a wider, more meaningful mission in the world,” she said.

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Founded in December, 2001, to perform a one-time concert during Burlington’s First Night celebration, the BGP has grown in prominence across New England and the Northeast. Its members hail from Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts, but they have found a common place for rehearsals and “just pickin’” in Montpelier.  “Musically, artistically, and theologically we produce a contemporary sound,” according to BGP manager Peter Nielsen.  The combination of Appalachia sounds, classical and original gospel-inspired songs creates “a special blend of musicality and spirituality that appeals to a wide-ranging audience”.

Tickets are available by calling 1-800-585-BANK (2265), by visiting www.bluegrassgospelproject.com, and at the Latchis Theater the evening of the show.  Tickets are priced at $16 for adults and $12 for seniors and students.  Children under 12 are free.  All proceeds benefit the Vermont Foodbank.

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For More Information:
Judy Stermer
(802) 476-3341, x108
jstermer@secondharvest.org