WILMINGTON — What can a Wilmington non-profit, a Beatles cover band and a cardiologist give touring musicians? Life.
That is this year’s goal for Chords for a Cause, a Wilmington non-profit organization founded in 2009 to support local charities. This Saturday, the non-profit is bringing back its fundraising concert series with an event held night at the newly re-branded Blue Eyed Muse, (formerly the Throne Theater and Ziggy’s By The Sea).
Damian Brezinski, owner of the Muse and founder of Chords for a Cause, said proceeds from this year’s event will go toward Keep The Beat Alive, an organization dedicated “to eliminating premature cardiac death in touring professionals. Through education, training and aggressive utilization of health care services, Keep The Beat Alive hopes to significantly cut the incidence of cardiac death.”
Keep the Beat Alive works by installing “Automated External Defibrillators (AED)” on tour buses, as well as training professionals to react and treat musicians and performers in case of an emergency.
Brezinski has always had an interest in music and said the organization arose out of an understanding of the bond formed by the power of live performance; that bond helped the organization raise over $250,000 in its first year. Since then, the organization has helped fund and support the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, the New Hanover County Regional Medical Center’s Mobile Pediatric Cancer Center, and Canines For Service.
This year’s concert will feature the music of The Dung Beatles, a Beatles cover band formed by the former front men of the band Gloriana, brothers Tim and Mike Gossin.
Video: The Dung Beatles performing at the 98.3 The Penguin studio.
According to Brezinski, the brothers recently finished touring with Taylor Swift, and after deciding to return home to Wilmington, reconnected with old friends Christian Cardamone and Jeff Coleman to complete The Dung Beatles lineup.
“I’m incredibly lucky to have worked with Mike and Tim through the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra,” Brezinski said. “We’ve forged a really beautiful friendship, they’re going to put on a great event.”
Tickets for the show are $10, and available at the Muse box office, or through its website at TheMuseWilmington.com. Doors open at 8 p.m., with The Dung Beatles taking the stage at 9 p.m. The venue is located at 208 Market St., on the corner of Market and 2nd streets.
For more information on Chords for a Cause, and to keep up with its latest efforts, follow the organization on Facebook. For more on Keep the Beat Alive, visit keepthebeatalive.org.
Get in touch with Reporter Cory Mannion: follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or send an email at cory@localvoicemedia.com.
