Elevate MKE, organizers of Rock the Burbs youth talent show and benefit concert in the Lake Country western suburbs, is hosting a virtual concert on Friday, May 8 to raise funds for musicians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rock the Room, an hour-long spinoff of Rock the Burbs, will kick off at 8 p.m. and will be hosted by 99.1 The Mix’s Elizabeth Kay.
On the bill are Animal Years, Listening Party, Jay Matthes, Betsy Ade and Well Known Strangers, The Gufs’ Goran Kralj.
Many musicians have had their incomes severely affected by the lack of venues at which to play and by the fact that many have day jobs that have been impacted by the pandemic. This event will raise funds for some of them and for the non-profit Elevate MKE, which hosts fundraisers for MACC Fund and groups that battle pancreatic cancer, juvenile diabetes and Fanconi anemia.
"We are doing what we can to support anyone we can in this time, and trying to go to our communities and back to all of our events to find a means and a naturally supportive audience," said Elevate MKE co-director Kate Inglish.
"We knew during a time like this, we had to create something for people to help others, to feel connected and to get spirits up all while getting people moving" added co-director Brianna Gasper.
A $10 household donation is suggested for the family friendly event but you are welcome to donate even more, of course, and the proceeds will be split between the performers and Elevate MKE.
Tickets/donations here, or Venmo (ElevateMKE-Inc) and put ROCK THE ROOM in the note. You will then be mailed a link to access the concert.
OnMilwaukee is a sponsor of Rock the Room.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
