For those of you who have followed the Give Me Sight Foundation, you know that we have put on some fantastic live music shows to raise funds for our organization through the years. People who have been to our shows love them! Bluntly said, we would not be who we are without the power of live music streaming through our veins.
As such, we are thrilled to announce that our next benefit concert will be a Reunion Show that will be take place on Friday, November 22nd at The Shedd!
While we are still in the process of confirming our lineup for the show, we wanted to bring your attention (and memories) back to some of the acts we have featured in the past. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get a few of these acts back to play an extended encore!
The Sugar Beets
What began as a weekend jam session among University of Oregon students in 1990 has become Eugene’s own community band creating the musical backdrop to countless celebrations, rites of passage, kickoffs, rallies and tributes. Soon to celebrate 20 years together, The Sugar Beets have only improved with time and experience.
Woven from the foot-stomping traditions of Bluegrass, Celtic and old time fiddle music to the worlds of Motown, gospel, country, folk and pop, The Sugar Beets have been moving audiences for nearly 20 years with original tunes and fresh and inspiring sounds.
The Sugar Beets are a skilled eight piece ensemble whose live show features two female vocalists, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, piano and drums. Frequent guest appearances from friends on saxophone, flute, djembe, and more smokin’ vocals make a Sugar Beets performance a family circus not to be missed. Their eclectic songwriting journeys from touching to soulful, joyful or hilarious as the band shifts genres. Their high energy dance music has become a soundtrack for Oregon’s most memorable outdoor celebrations. Their rich harmonies, impeccable musicianship and extraordinary versatility captivate theatre audiences throughout the region. (1)
The Good Time Travelers
The Good Time Travelers are a multi-instrumental acoustic duo with vocal harmonies and a stage presence so big that they have been described as a “2-piece power-trio”. Pete Kartsounes and Michael Kirkpatrick have a sound that is rooted in bluegrass and folk music, but the sentiment is pure rock and roll. They’ve performed around the country at festivals such as Big Sky Big Grass (MT), Northwest String Summit (OR), Folk Alliance (MO), Winter Wondergrass (CA/CO), River City Roots Festival (MT), Beartrap Festival (WY), Mystic Hot Springs Music Festival (UT), and Salmonfest (AK). The Good Time Travelers have opened for Bluegrass greats such as Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, and Del McCoury & David Grisman. (2)
Concrete Loveseat
Concrete Loveseat was formed in 2011 and broke up up 2017. They were a fantastic, jazzy band of seven with powerful vocals to match. While playing, the listener was treated to moving American jazz standards that included covers as well as original work that included French, Portuguese, gypsy, Spanish-style works that got audiences everywhere moving to the music and eventually giving standing ovations.
Paul Biondi
Paul Biondi has an amazing resume. He has backed up such artists as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, and Lena Horne.
Paul also went on tour for many years with Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, and Ike and Tina Turner. After that he went on a year-long world tour with Smokey Robinson.
JAM Spring 2014 – Paul Biondi, Saxophonist from UO SOJC on Vimeo.
Stay tuned for more information about who will play at this Reunion Show!