By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Musicians rally for MDA Concert of Hope

Anyone who has felt frustrated and helpless watching a loved one or friend suffer from a deadly disease might appreciate the efforts of those who are organizing and participating in Saturday’s MDA Concert for Hope at the House of Bricks.

Four years ago, when his friend Chris Stark was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Scott Stillwell, co-founder and manager of The Lighthouse Coffeehouse at West Des Moines Christian Church, wanted to help raise awareness and money to fight neuromuscular diseases the best way he knew how — by organizing a benefit concert. This marks the third year Stilwell and other volunteers at The Lighthouse have assembled national and local musicians to donate their time and talent to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. It’s a cause near to Stilwell’s heart.

“The catalyst for this was Chris,” Stilwell says. “He was the first soundman at The Lighthouse, and I’ve seen what the MDA has done for him. It’s a great organization that supports patients and families.”

To help broaden the appeal of the concert and raise more money, Stilwell and the MDA moved the show to the House of Bricks and assembled an eclectic lineup of folk, blues, pop and rock acts to play an all-ages, smoke-free concert from 5 to 9 p.m. Trailer Records folk artist BeJae Fleming (5 p.m.), accompanied by Scott and Sharon Stilwell, will open the show, followed by Minnesota-based pop-folk music singer Dennis Warner (6 p.m.), and FireField (7:10 p.m.), a young rock group of four seniors from Valley High School that includes singer-guitarist Matt Hayden, keyboardist Brendan Oberkircher, bassist Tucker Young and drummer Matt Stilwell. Local hill country blues trio Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts (8 p.m.) will close the show. Admission is a $10 donation to the MDA.

“At first it might seem like an odd pairing, but it makes a lot of sense,” Stilwell says. “The musicians are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts and we hope to get more people who wouldn’t come to The Lighthouse.”

Stilwell says he also moved the show from The Lighthouse because the folk-music venue will close at the end of the year and he wants to be sure the MDA Concert for Hope continues in the years ahead.

“I wanted to move it offsite to empower the MDA to keep it going after The Lighthouse is done,” he says. “They called the House of Bricks, and they were excited to help out.”

Stilwell says he hopes the concert will become a part of the MDA’s recognized annual charity events, like its telethon, golf classic and walk. Over the years, he says, the concert has helped raise thousands of dollars.

“I’d like to see this be a part of their routine,” he says. “I think it’s a good event.”

Tasty tunes found at food fest

The free Wells Fargo Food Festival returns this weekend to the East Village. Alongside a variety of cultural cafes highlighting culinary delights from across the globe (all food selections are $5 or less, including $1 samples), a bevy of free live music can be found.

At the Corona Stage, the headlining acts for Friday are Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts (6-7:30 p.m.) and Public Property (8-10 p.m.). On Saturday, it’s Five Gumbas (5-6 p.m.), Lady Blue (6:30-8 p.m.) and World Port (8:30-10 p.m.). Switchback (1-3:30 p.m.) headlines on Sunday.

A variety of ethnic music and dances are scheduled to play throughout the weekend, including performances by Cucho Madero, Tubabu, Five Gumbas, Iowa Scottish Pipes and Drums, Las Guitarras de Mexico, White Eagle Pow Wow, Gateway Dance Theater and Italian-American Folk Dancers. For more information visit www.downtowneventsgroup.org.

Scene notes

The live music scene suffered another loss last week when Raccoon River Brewing Co. announced that the downtown Des Moines eatery and bar will no longer host concerts on the weekends. The announcement follows the decision by the brewery earlier this summer to cancel its Monday night jazz jams hosted by Sam Salomone. The jam moved briefly to Raccoon River Brewing Co. after its longtime host, Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Co., decided to cancel its live music offerings, too. An employee at Raccoon River tells Cityview the restaurant and pub will host Floodplane on Halloween and two bands on New Years Eve, and will host music “only on special occasions,” citing the cancellation of bands was “a personal choice by the owner.” … The privately owned music program formerly known as Music and Movement Center that meets at St. Mark Lutheran Church, has been purchased by the non-profit Iowa Youth Chorus, and has been renamed Beginnings. Classes for children from birth to age 8 are available. Visit ww.iowayouthchorus.com or call 262-8312. … Tickets are on sale now to “Ring of Fire — The Music of Johnny Cash,” which makes its Iowa premiere Jan. 11-12, 2008, at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. The new Broadway musical features 38 Cash songs. Tickets are $25 and $47.50 through the box office and Ticketmaster. … The Bravery plays an all-ages show at the House of Bricks on Friday at 5 p.m. Tickets are $15. … Toaster and Snafu play Luxx in Clive on Saturday to celebrate the dance bar’s new patio. Doors open at 3 p.m. … Café Diem in Ankeny will host a Christian Concert on Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., featuring Central Iowa musicians Gary Sobbing and Jacob Tyler Wolfgang. Sobbing has published more than 100 songs as a solo artist and the frontman for the band Day and Night. Wolfgang, of Ankeny, recently released his first EP, “Bless Our Burning Heart,” and will embark on a national tour to support it. Café Diem is located at 2005 S. Ankeny Blvd., Suite 800. … Jazz pianist Benny Green plays the Des Moines Art Center Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance through IowaTix.com or by phone at 276-0777 and will not be for sale at the door. … The Envy Corps returns home to play Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. at the House of Bricks. Admission is $5. … Randy Burk and the Prisoners headline the “Tribute to Johnny Cash” concert Oct. 13, at People’s Court. The Josh Davis Band and Brother Trucker share the bill. … Tickets to the John Mellencamp pre-show party at Hy-Vee Hall from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 9, are on sale now. Package No. 1 is $96.95 and includes a reserved ticket to the concert, two hours of food and drinks, a gift and live music by the Soapbox Prophets. Package No. 2, for those who already have tickets to the concert, is $49.95 and includes everything else from the first package. Call 564-8059 or 564-8090. … Local rockers Cell Division are returning to the studio to record their next album tentatively titled, “Placebo.” But before they go in, they’ll play a free show Saturday at 10 p.m. at Java Joes Coffeehouse. … Speaking of new albums by local bands, Hot Tamale & the Red Hots have issued their debut CD, “Hot Off the Grill.” They play Oct. 13, at Good Times in Ankeny at 9 p.m. Meanwhile, Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts will celebrate the release of their debut album, “Be My Friend,” with a CD release party on Oct. 27, at Blues on Grand. … The Friends of Forest Avenue Library will host national acoustic blues artist Fruteland Jackson on Nov. 18. The performance is free. … Nominations for 2008 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame include Afrika Bambaataa, Beastie Boys, Chic, Leonard Cohen, The Dave Clark Five, Madonna, John Mellencamp, Donna Summer and The Ventures. Inductees will be honored next March. CV

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