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Untitled Document
REX FOUNDATION BENEFIT
BLACK TIE-DYE BALL
starring
THE DARK STAR ORCHESTRA
In Celebration of the Rex Foundation's 20th Anniversary
Saturday, March 6, Park West, Chicago
Rex Foundation, the non-profit, charitable
organization established in 1983 by friends and members of the Grateful Dead,
initiates the celebration of its 20th year of grant making with a Black Tie-Dye
Ball featuring the Dark
Star Orchestra on Saturday, March 6 at the Park
West in Chicago, IL. Concert ticket prices are $35. Tickets are on sale
January 31 at TicketMaster (www.ticketmaster.com) or (312) 559-1212, and GDTS, TOO
– www.gdtstoo.com or (415) 457-6388.
VIP tickets, which include a special pre-concert reception with the artists,
dinner, and silent auction, are available for a premium by calling the Rex Foundation
at (415) 457-1296 or by visiting the website at www.rexfoundation.org.
In the Spring of 1984 the first Rex Benefit was held in San Rafael, California.
For the next eleven years, the Grateful Dead performed Rex Benefit concerts across
the country that resulted in over seven million dollars in grants to some 900 programs.
In December 2001, the Rex Foundation initiated its renewal efforts by presenting
benefit events and extending its reach to a broad base of supporters, and has
since granted $350,000 to 50 programs.
"The Black Tie-Dye Ball is our first benefit outside of the Bay Area since 1994,"
says Sandy Sohcot, Executive Director. "We're excited about initiating
our 20th Anniversary celebration in Chicago with Dark Star Orchestra. This
not only honors our history, but also celebrates the success of our renewal
efforts to connect with an extended base of musicians and fans who want to see
the Rex Foundation once again fund many worthwhile programs." Proceeds
from the March 6 benefit will support Chicago-area programs.
Dark Star Orchestra, referred to by the Washington Post as "the hottest
Grateful Dead tribute act going," performed its first shows in November
1997 at Martyrs' in Chicago. Giving homage in a continually evolving artistic
outlet, the band recreates historic Grateful Dead set lists with compelling
accuracy. Each night, the Chicago-based band decides on performing one show
from the 2,500 that the Grateful Dead performed during their 30-year tenure
as fathers of improvisational rock. Dark Star Orchestra presents the complete
original set list, song by song, and in order, with uncanny faithful interpretation.
The group has their craft so well-refined that even members of the Grateful
Dead themselves--rhythm guitarist/vocalist Bob Weir, drummer Bill Kreutzmann,
and keyboardist Vince Welnick--have appeared on stage and performed with these
live music interpreters.
"Since forming in 1997, Dark Star Orchestra has had the honor of carrying
the torch for the music of the Grateful Dead, and now we have the opportunity
to help in another way," says Scott Larned of Dark Star Orchestra. "The
benefit will utilize local artists, businesses, caterers, and promoters to generate
funds that the Rex Foundation will turn around and grant to worthy causes in
the Chicago area. We look forward to supporting the Rex Foundation and keeping
strong the sense of community that the Grateful Dead generated, especially given
the local nature of this special event."
The Rex Foundation was established in 1983 as a non-profit charitable organization
in order to provide community support for creative endeavors in the arts, the
sciences, and in education. With the death of Grateful Dead lead guitarist Jerry
Garcia in 1995, the Rex Foundation lost a friend and board member. And, with
the cessation of Grateful Dead touring, Rex lost its main source of funding.
In December 2001, the Rex Foundation presented its first benefit concert to
help launch the renewal of the Rex Foundation’s activities. The concert--The Healing Power of Music--helped spark a new era of broad community support
for the organization. Since then, the Rex Foundation has granted over $350,000
to 50 programs. Proceeds from the Black Tie-Dye Ball will not only support Chicago-area
programs, they will also support the foundation's goal to multiply its grant
making each year and once again fund many grassroots programs that might not
otherwise receive mainstream recognition yet work in innovative, bold, and sometimes
controversial ways to bring about helpful solutions to local and global challenges.
The mission of the Rex Foundation is to help secure a healthy environment,
promote individuality in the arts, provide support to critical and necessary
social services, assist others less fortunate than ourselves, protect the rights
of indigenous people and ensure their cultural survival, build a stronger community,
and educate children and adults everywhere. For more information on the Rex
Foundation, visit the website at www.rexfoundation.org.
To find out more about the Dark Star Orchestra visit the website at www.darkstarorchestra.net.
Dave Weissman
JamBase | Chicago
Go See Live Music!
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