NEWS RELEASE: Rhythm & Soul for Relief–Concert for Japan, Haiti & the World

RHYTHM & SOUL FOR RELIEF: Concert for Japan, Haiti & the World
Featuring Dilated Peoples, Breakestra, Very Be Careful, Boogaloo Assassins & Others

The Echoplex on Sunday, May 22, 2011
All Proceeds Donated to Operation USA

Los Angeles, CA (April 8, 2011)—The Echoplex will host the inaugural Rhythm & Soul for Relief: Concert for Japan, Haiti & the World on Sunday, May 22. Net ticket proceeds from this night will be donated to Operation USA for their relief efforts in Japan, Haiti and other disaster zones.

Last year in response to the earthquakes in Haiti, Operation USA presented a nearly sold-out Haiti Relief Concert featuring Hepcat, Dengue Fever and others. Over $13,000 was raised for OpUSA’s work in Haiti. Based on the overwhelming response by music fans along with the need to support immediate and ongoing efforts in numerous affected areas around the world, OpUSA is launching this annual benefit and awareness concert series.

The soul-infused line-up features some of Los Angeles’ most popular home grown talent: hip hop trio Dilated Peoples (Rakaa, Evidence, DJ Babu), funk group Breakestra, cumbia band Very Be Careful, Latin soul outfit Boogaloo Assassins, new reggae all-stars The Good Times featuring Black Shakespeare, plus selectors DJ 2High (DPG Japan), Music Man Miles (Funky Sole/Root Down) and Tom Chasteen (Dub Club/Echodelic Soundsystem). Black Shakespeare (I&I Sound) will also emcee this event alongside veteran radio host Junor Francis.

Operation USA is a Los Angeles-based international relief agency that helps communities at home and abroad overcome the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid. Since 1979, OpUSA has worked in 99 countries, delivering over $350 million for relief and development projects.

Following the 8.9 earthquake and massive tsunami that hit northeast Japan, OpUSA is working with a well-established network of local partners to address immediate needs for material aid, with a focus on shelter and medical supplies. While further assessment is needed before committing to specific recovery projects, OpUSA will focus its efforts on supporting communities that may be overlooked by larger agencies or the Japanese government. Projects will be identified where the efforts can have the maximum impact.

Following the devastation in Haiti and the continuing struggles their people still face, OpUSA helped complete one of the largest post-quake rebuilding projects so far. Earlier this month, construction was completed for Ecole Nationale Jacob Martin Henriquez, a new, state-of-the-art public school in the hard hit city of Jacmel. This nine-building complex will provide a new educational home to more than 400 local children in grades K through 7. In addition, a scholarship fund has been developed by OpUSA to help support expenses the students will incur during the year, including mandatory uniforms, books and supplies. A feeding program that will provide a hot meal every day for each student and community development programs are also being planned.

Unique to Operation USA is their policy that 96% of all money donated to relief efforts and programs are spent on direct support and materials for people in need; only 4% of money donated is available for operational costs or overhead. OpUSA is also unique in the way they identify and target aspects of the community that will make the most positive impact on peoples’ lives, including training that provides people with the sustaining skills. www.opusa.org.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 at the door and available now through www.ticketweb.com. Doors open at 7pm with live performances from 8pm to midnight. The Echoplex is located at 1154 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026 in downtown Echo Park, below The Echo (enter through the alley off of Glendale Blvd). Phone # is 213-413-8200. It’s an 18 and over, general admission venue.