This year, the festivities move to a new location: 27 Live in Evanston. The venue has been on our radar since a Thanksgiving eve gig that featured some interesting sit-ins, and we expect great things.
Mr. Blotto and Blotto family are usually well represented (last year featured a set by Blotto guitarist Mark Hague and his Helping Phriendly Orchestra project). This year's benefit ups the ante a bit, with two full sets of Blotto featuring Dave "B3" Allen. Johnny V and the Killer Bzzz, A Bloke Named Smokey, Jay Vonn and October Road round out the bill, which also features kid-friendly activities (moonwalk, face painting, storytelling) and a silent auction. The video embedded below provides a fine preview of what's to come.
Advance tickets are available via ticketfly. There is a $20 donation. As a lover of music and the uncle of an extraordinary nephew with autism, I urge you to please consider supporting this extremely worthy cause.
Here's the complete lineup and schedule of events.
12:00-12:30 Jay Vonn
12:40- 1:15 October Road
1:30 to 2:20 A Bloke Named Smokey
2:35 to 3:20 Johnny V & the Killer Bees
3:35 to 4:45 Mr. Blotto Set 1
4:45 to 5:05 break
5:05 to 6:15 Mr. Blotto Set 2
About NICA: Serving well over 1,250 people annually in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, NICA continues to grow and assist people with autism and their family members. People with autism spectrum and related disorders of all ages and functioning levels of ability are able to receive assistance from NICA. Its members require a variety of services and support, based on their developmental level. NICA currently provides the following support services:
