FOR A CAUSE CreaturoS will be playing the Middle East on September 13. |
More than 30 bands and artists will perform live next week across multiple venues to raise money for the victims of the August 23 house fire at 95 Columbia Street in Cambridge, also known as "The Danger Zone" and "Columbia House" — a welcoming space that housed a dozen creative types. In the days after the fire, the response from the Boston music and arts scene was swift. "I got about 20 emails from bands and folks in about an hour; it was pretty crazy and awesome," says Somerville's Meghan Chiampa, who has co-organized "Help! Our Bands Are on Fire!," an all-day music festival scheduled for September 9. Roughly two dozen bands will perform throughout the afternoon and into the evening at Union Square's Precinct, P.A.'s Lounge, and Sally O'Brien's. One $10 ticket gets you into all three venues, where the performers will include Sarah Rabdau, Mighty Tiny, Parlour Bells, Rick Berlin, Mount Peru, and Streight Angular. "We have a lovely community," says Chiampa. "All the bands are very cooperative."
Next up are two Cambridge benefits. On September 14, Flat Top Johnny's will host "Dark Angels," a goth-inspired night of DJs, performances, and raffle prizes. But first, on September 13, the Middle East Downstairs will host a fundraiser co-organized by local artists and the Out of the Blue Gallery. "Help! Our Bands Are on Fire 2!" will feature performances from at least seven acts, including Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, Avoxblue, CreaturoS, Satellites Fall, and Brendan Burns, guitarist for the Kristen Ford Band and resident of 95 Columbia. The cover there is $10 as well.
"The people who lived at 95 Columbia Street — the musicians, performers, and artists — and the people responding to help, we are all part of the same tribe," says Tom Tipton, owner of Out of the Blue. "Brothers and sisters bonded in creative energy. Some of our people needed help big time."
To donate to the residents of 95 Columbia Street, visit columbiahousefire.weebly.com.
