January 12, 2007

Dispatch Rock For Zimbabwe!

Reggae-infused rockers Dispatch are ready to give it up for charity and they want you to come along. And apparently you listened, with two sold-out engagements at MSG. From the Dispatch website:

Friends:

It has been a wild 48 hours. What we initially intended to be a one-night charity event at Madison Square Garden turned into two SOLD OUT nights (July 13 and 14), all via our presale. We cannot thank you enough for your generous support of the cause at hand.

In an effort to get more tickets into the hands of fans, and raise further awareness and funds for those in need, we will be adding a third night of DISPATCH: ZIMBABWE, to take place on Sunday, July 15.

There will be no presale for this show. All tickets will be made available to the public at 9:00 AM EST on Saturday, January 20. Tickets can be purchased at that time via Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 212.307.7171. Also, in an attempt to fight some of the folks who thought it would be charitable to use EBAY to turn a profit on a charity show, there will be a 6 ticket limit per customer, and 4 ticket limit per customer for floor seats. Multiple transactions will not be permitted.

We are also working with our production team to explore opening more seats on Friday July 13, and Saturday July 14. More information on this as soon as it becomes available.

For now, all we can say is, Thank you.

**TEAM DISPATCH**
As for what this is all about, Ticketmaster summed it up pretty well on their presale page:
The goal is to raise money to fight the effects of environmental degradation, sustained drought conditions, a distressing disregard for human rights, an HIV population that exceeds 25% and an ill-advised economic policy that has left thousands of Zimbabweans on the brink of starvation.

The proceeds from the event will go towards fighting disease, famine, and social injustice in Zimbabwe--plus, in an effort to bring the fight to their own country, the band will donate a small portion of money raised to the domestic causes they have long supported.
Don't try buying tickets from the page though, as you'll be sorely disappointed if you do. Rather, plug in to the 7/15/07 event page, where you can get in on the action beginning on Jan. 20th. But do follow the rules so some of us ticket-less ones can get in on this too, k?

Be sure to stay tuned to Dispatch:Zimbabwe for the latest updates, news, and info, including how you can get backstage with the band (perverts need not apply).

Not familiar with the jammin' sounds of Dispatch? No problem! Just head on over to their official band page, where you can stream their music library for all your listening needs completely free! And remember this is for a good cause so come out for a good time and do some good while you're at it. I'll be hoping to catch you there!

Discuss:

What's the best charity concert ever staged?
(The Concert for Bangladesh, Live Aid, Live 8, others?)
What's the best performance from a charity event?
What's your ideal charity benefit concert lineup? What cause would you support?

1 comment:

RyTunes said...

I think a 3-day, 2-stage concert for Darfur should be in the works. I say 3 days so that any act that wants to help isn't turned away.

During the mornings/afternoons you could have world music, funk bands, improv jazz, whatever. Then when it hits 4:30...

DAY 1
Red Stage:
You have your pop line up.
John Mayer, Gwen Stefani, Dave Matthews Band, Fergie.

Blue Stage:
The hip-hop/rap crowd.
Jay-Z, Eminem, Chamillionaire, whoever is big there.

DAY 2
Red Stage:
Mid tempo/art rock.
Dredg, A Perfect Circle, Finger Eleven, etc.

Blue Stage:
The hard-hitters.
Korn, Metallica, Sevendust, Hinder, Flyleaf, Evanescence, System Of A Down.

DAY 3
We'd go to straight mainstream music.

So...
Red Stage:
During The Day-
Britpop bands!
Starsailor, Stereophonics, Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Travis
At night-
The modern all-stars!
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Audioslave, Green Day, U2.

Blue Stage:
During the Night-
The pop-punk/emo set.
Panic! At The Disco, 30 Seconds To Mars, All American Rejects, +44, Angels And Airwaves

Day-
Jam/chill bands
Phish, Dispatch, Guster, etc.