News: 2007 RAINN Benefit Concert Series

20-Something Women Strike Up The Bands Refusing To Be Silent About Sexual Assault

Shawn Mullins, Rachael Sage, Ari Hest And More Headline Shows To Combat Sexual Assault And Empower Survivors

Procees To Fund Innovative ‘Chat-Style’ Hotline At RAINN.Org

Nashville TN – Nashville residents Andrea Kleid and Jenn Brinn have both been impacted by the reality of sexual assault in their lives. Through that experience both women had come to know and support the organization RAINN, (Rape Abuse Incest National Network). When the two met, it became clear that they had much more in common than their affiliation with the RAINN organization; both women also work in the music industry and share a passion for music and its affect on humankind. It was this shared passion of using music to change the world one song at a time along with the understanding of the power of music that brought them together in 2006 to create PixieVoice Promotions and launch the inaugural RAINN Benefit Concert Tour to educate and empower survivors of sexual assault. 

Last year’s SOLD OUT showcase in Nashville featured talented local and regional artists and the event raised over $2,200 in much needed funds for RAINN. The success of that one show has sparked a course of action that has been a surprise to even the two who orchestrated the evening. A series of amazing circumstances, coupled with the support and attention of last years attendees, artists and others who learned of the event and its impact have led to SEVEN Benefit Concerts across the country at some of the most prestigious venues and featuring some of the most influential artists to date. The 2007 RAINN Benefit Concert Tour will be held on Boston MA, New York NY, Charlottesville VA, Nashville TN, Atlanta GA, Charlotte NC and Asheville NC. Some of the artists featured in this year’s concert tour include Toby Lightman, Ari Hest, Gary Jules, Shawn Mullins, Amy Cook, Alice Peacock among others and the series of events hopes to raise over $15,000 for RAINN. 

This year’s dates and artists include:

Sunday, August 19, 2007
Club Passim / Cambridge, MA / 7:30 pm

• Ari Hest, Chris Trapper, Antje Duvekot, Amy Correia, Tracy Grammer, Amelia White, Kristin Cifelli, Adrianne, Alley Trela

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Cutting Room / New York City, NY / 7:00 pm

• Jen Chapin, Rachael Sage, Andy Mac, Amelia White, Lucy Woodward, Alley Trela

Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Gravity Lounge / Charlottesville, VA / 7:00 pm

• Amy Cook, Sonia & Disappear Fear, Don Dixon, Mieka Pauley, Mariana Bell, Alley Trela

Thursday, August 23, 2007
3rd & Lindsley / Nashville, TN / 7:00 pm

• Shawn Mullins, Alice Peacock, Peter Bradley Adams, Chris Pureka, Jen Foster, Alley Trela

Friday, August 24, 2007
Eddie’s Attic / Atlanta, GA / 6:30 pm

• Blue Mother Tupelo, Matthew Perryman Jones, Adrianne, Jen Foster, Amy Cook, Jim Bianco, & Gary Jules, Alley Trela

Saturday, August 25, 2007
Evening Muse / Charlotte, NC / 7:00 pm

• Gary Jules, Jim Bianco, Amy Cook, Mieka Pauley, The Near Misses, & April McLean, Alley Trela

Sunday, August 26, 2007
The Grey Eagle / Asheville, NC / 6:00 pm

• Gary Jules, Jim Bianco, Brianna Lane, Amy Cook, Kellin Watson, Kyler England, Mieka Pauley, Alley Trela

RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. Since its inception in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline has helped more than ONE MILLION victims of sexual assault. Proceeds from this year’s concert series will assist in funding the new National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at RAINN.org. At any given moment, more than 1,100 trained volunteers are on duty and available to help victims at RAINN-affiliated crisis centers across the country. Every 2.5 minutes, someone in America is affected by sexual assault and since its inception over ONE MILLION people have been helped through RAINN’s hotline. We are out to stop this violent crime, and help those who are in the midst of the healing. RAINN is rated among America’s TOP 100 Charities (Worth Magazine).

The RAINN Benefit Concert Tour is sponsored by Unsigned Artists and presented by PixieVoice Promotions. Unsigned Artists provides an overall informative, entertaining and helpful resource for the independent music community where content sharing between artists and fans is the centerpiece. Look forward to www.UnsignedArtists.com for updated information, to sign up for future updates, and find out about what’s ahead!  

You can help to impact someone’s life that has been touched by sexual assault with only a few dollars or a donation to this concert series. Use the story of these two twenty-something young women who believed that their efforts could truly make a difference as your inspiration.  They’ve taken the brokenness that comes with the shame of sexual assault, and turned it into a movement. We hope you’ll take the time to experience their enthusiasm for impacting survivor one song at a time. Please get involved today. For more information about RAINN, check out RAINN.Org or visit MySpace for more information on the RAINN Benefit Concert Series.