The Riverside Market is hosting a fundraiser tonight to benefit Musicians on Call, a nonprofit charity that brings local musicians to hospitals so they can give in-room performances to patients. The event will be sponsored by Florida Beer Co., and there will be a $10 cover at the door, which includes one draft beer and goes directly to Musicians on Call.
The event will be headlined by its organizer, leader of the South Florida branch of the org, and all-around busy dude Phil Barnes. Barnes has been -- to say the least -- active in the recent South Florida music scene.
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After starting a weekly songwriter night on Pompano Beach, releasing a single last May, playing last month's FAT Village Art Walk at C&I Studios, and performing and emceeing a weekly pop-up concert series, it's hard to believe Barnes has any strings left on his guitar, let alone air in his lungs.
But this event has value to the artist that many others don't. A little over a year ago, Barnes' brother passed away suddenly after a routine surgery went wrong. The death of his brother, who had been in and out of hospitals his entire life after a car accident at the age of 3, led Barnes to become involved with Musicians on Call, and he's been performing weekly with the charity since. Barnes also trains volunteer musicians who wish to be a part of Musicians on Call. Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Holtz Children's Hospital, and South Miami Hospital are where he makes his rounds.
"There's nothing like it," Barnes told New Times in an interview last May. "The cool thing about music is you can take it into a room where someone probably just got the worst news they've ever received in their life, but when we go in there and shine a little light, it turns their day around."
The atmosphere at Riverside Market will be undoubtedly lighter, though the formula will remain the same: Play music. Spur a positive change in people's lives.
Oh, and beer. This time there will be a lot of beer.
The fundraiser begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at Riverside Market, 608 SW 12th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Cover is $10 and includes one draft beer from Florida Beer Co. Visit Facebook.
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