Todd Rundgren and other performing musicians thanking the crowd at the 2015 ALL ATX benefit concert
(Credit: ALL ATX)
ALL ATX advocates for and nurtures Austin’s musicians, and strives to aid Austin in keeping musicians here and cared for. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ALL ATX is adding new beneficiaries this year to best meet the needs of local musicians, needs highlighted in the 2015 Austin Music Census Report.
The proceeds from the Sept. 29 ALL ATX 2016 Showcase and accompanying CD, both titled “Low Down Violet Crown: Austin Rocks the Blues,” will go to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), SIMS Foundation, Black Fret and Austin Music Foundation, four organizations that give direct support to Austin musicians. In addition, ALL ATX founder Gary Keller and Mary Pfluger have donated to Foundation Communities, an organization providing affordable housing in Austin, another way to support our city’s musicians.
Keller and Pfluger are underwriting the costs of the 2016 benefit concert, ensuring that every dollar raised through ticket sales goes straight to musicians. Clark Nowlin, part of the leadership team at ALL ATX and an Austin-based musician himself, states plainly that the goal is to keep Austin the “Live Music Capital of the World,” a popular sentiment in today’s rapidly growing Austin.
Low Down Violet Crown: Austin Rocks the Blues
Nakia will perform during the 2016 ALL ATX concert (Credit: Eric Highland)
The upcoming ALL ATX benefit concert features headlining national act The Doobie Brothers, along with a tasty lineup of Austin greats: Bob Schneider, Doyle Bramhall II, James McMurtry, Nakia, Guy Forsyth, Walker Lukens, Jackie Venson, Carolyn Wonderland & Shelley King, Jimmy LaFave, Water and Rust, and Van Wilks. The show is at ACL Live at The Moody Theater on Sept. 29, 2016.
The blues genre is the stylistic cornerstone this year, so each band has recorded its own arrangement of a classic blues song for both the concert and the CD that supporters and fans can purchase at the concert and Waterloo Records. Though concert tickets are now sold out, Austinites can still contribute by purchasing the CD.
Supporting HAAM, SIMS, Austin Music Foundation and Black Fret represents a change in direction for ALL ATX, one the ALL ATX leadership team is confident will make a tangible difference in the lives of Austin musicians. They are dedicated to making life better, more affordable and more comfortable for our local musical talent for years to come.
ALL ATX Beneficiary Nonprofits
Black Fret founders Matt Ott (left) and Colin Kendrick (right) with Not In The Face frontman, Jonathan Terrell
(Credit: Eric Highland)
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM)
HAAM’s goal is to provide access to affordable health care for Austin’s often uninsured or underinsured musicians. Their focus is on prevention and wellness, and access to medical care, including primary medical care, basic dental care, and mental health services aids in this goal.
SIMS Foundation
SIMS offers access to over 90 mental health and addiction recovery service providers in the Austin area to those in the Austin music industry and their families. These services are given at low or no cost, and cover treatments for a host of mental health issues that may otherwise be out of reach financially.
Black Fret
Black Fret seeks to empower local musicians to create and perform high-quality new material. The organization provides annual $10,000 grants to musicians through a membership model. Recipients go through a nomination and selection process, and the organization is set up to eventually finance more than $1,000,000 in grants each year.
Austin Music Foundation
Austin Music Foundation strengthens and connects the Austin music community via free educational programs. Among other services, the organization provides panel discussions with industry experts, individual consulting, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Cherishing the Beloved Austin Music Scene
Keller explains, “As people and as businesses, we have all chosen to make Austin home. For years we have hung our hat on this city being the ‘Live Music Capital of the World.’ We’ve all benefitted from this unique culture. However, as a city, we have not united in protecting our musicians and the culture they create. If you take a look at the Music Census, our city is losing its creative community. We need to unite to keep them here. That is why we created ALL ATX.”
Colin Kendrick, Founder of Black Fret, says, “Austin has a fine tradition of creating some of the most innovative local music charities in the world. HAAM, SIMS, AMF, and Black Fret have been providing direct health, education, mentoring and funding to our city’s incredible musicians for years. ALL ATX is a brilliant new addition with a powerful yet simple vision to unite and empower those organizations.”
For more information, visit allatx.org.
@theAustinot wants to know:
Do you think Austin still warrants the title, “Live Music Capital of the World”?
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