Southern Utah Flood Relief Concert

When we woke up on December 30^th, 2004 the Tsunami disaster had reached such epic proportions that we all began to wonder what we could do to help half a world away. Still today all you have to do is type Tsunami into Google’s search engine and you are overwhelmed with articles about the disaster and what everyone is doing to help. With the numbers of confirmed dead growing daily, and as of this writing we see numbers of over 272,000 in the whole area, our hearts go out to all those people. But we may ask, “What can I do to help, and will my donation really get there?”

These are the questions that Hal Stead asked himself on that day. Then he decided to do something and see if he could create an effort bigger than himself. “On December 30^th, 2004 I began to organize a concert here in Southern Utah to benefit Tsunami victims and the response was overwhelming,” remarked Stead. “I figured that since we couldn’t drive there and help, maybe we could raise some money and make a small impact somehow.”

All that was done 11 days before our own flood disaster here in Southern Utah. “The flood that we have just experienced is small in comparison with the Tsunami disaster, but just as devastating to those who have lost a loved one or their home,” said Stead, “At our last organizational meeting we decided unanimously to call this event the Southern Utah Flood Relief Concert. The venue is already in place, the artists have agreed to perform, we’ve just redirected our efforts to local concerns. Tsunami will still be there long after we clean up our mess.”

So, on January 28^th, 2005 at Dixie State College in the Eccles Center for the Arts, we’ll have the opportunity to listen to some of the finest local talent ever assembled under one roof by donating to our own disaster.

When asked who will be there, Stead said, “Let’s see, we’ll have Blues, Jazz and Rock in the main theatre, and fine art music in the Concert Hall, all at the same time!”

What is meant by fine art music? They have “Lieto”, Norm Lister’s choir; “Ambrosia”, a string quartet that plays classical music, pop and Broadway; Paul Barfus a Classical guitarist and the Dixie College Wind Ensemble. In the same venue is Wooden Tantrum that plays Celtic style music, and Cassity Jones, an up and coming young violinist.

In the main theatre, the lineup includes the Sam Payne Project, Stacy Lee, The Gerone Wedig Vintage Blues Band, the Dixie College Jazz Ensemble, Circle of Four, David Jorgensen, and Flagship, Hal Stead’s band.

Where will the money go? Stead said, “We have a financial team that has been doing research and there is a donation account at Wells Fargo set up just for this disaster. So far it seems that the funds in that account will be used solely for our local needs. We’ll have tables with volunteers ready to answer questions and take credit cards, checks, or cash. With so much fraud, one of our biggest concerns has been that we want the funds get to the right place.”

Where: Dixie State College, Eccles Fine Arts Center

When: January 28^th, 2005

Time: Starts at 4 pm

Ticket price: Any size donation to Southern Utah Flood Relief

Volunteer to help: Call 229-1969 and leave your name and number.