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Magazine |
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Join Country
Road in caring for children Unique and
a fact. Musicians of these three nationalities combine with Sri
Lankan musicians for yet another mega musical happening this year
- Country Road. This annual
concert of country and folk music, launched in 1988, is back this
year after a 12-month break and will be held at the Trans Asia hotel
on October 13. "The concert
was planned but not held last year due to sponsorship problems and
other issues because of the crisis facing the airline industry,"
said a spokesman for the Country Music Foundation (CMF). CMF officials
have cause to celebrate this year because another pet CMF project
- roping in the business community to help in children's causes
- finally gets off the ground. Country Road, the eleventh in the
series of country shows, would be followed by a CEO's roundtable
on children on October 14. It is the first
ever CEO's roundtable on children to be held here and in the region
and is a direct result of the Katmandu summit on children organised
by UNICEF last year which brought together children, businesspersons
and NGOs from South Asia. The October
14 event is jointly organised by the CMF, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce,
the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and a group of concerned
members of the business community. The popular
Country Road concert once again features the Mavericks from Germany
with a new line-up including US fiddle player Steven Bohn, who would
be additionally playing the bass guitar while the presence of Italian-born
Elena Ley, a popular country singer in Germany is expected to add
colour to the show. Bring in the
formidable Mariazelle, whose passion for country music is showcased
exclusively at Country Road concerts since its inception, and a
new line-up for the "voices in harmony" boys - Flame Unplugged
led by guitarist Rienzie Pereira ... and country fans can be assured
of a wonderful evening of entertainment. There are also a few surprises
in store for fans. The Maverick
band, in addition to its exploits in Germany, has entertained UN
peacekeeping force in Prizren, Kosovo and in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.
"The soldiers will long remember these days of country music,
bull riding and relaxation, away from the rigours and dangers surrounding
them," said Dirk Maverick, leader of the band. The concert
cum charity show has attracted new sponsorship from Emirates and
Cargills while media sponsors are Gold FM, Dynavision and The Sunday
Times. The CMF has
to date raised more than a million rupees for poor children in Sri
Lanka with the proceeds being channelled to projects through UNICEF.
Emirates Sales Manager of Colombo, Devika Ellepola said they were
pleased to support this initiative as the welfare of children is
"one of the finest causes that a corporate entity can support." She said in
Sri Lanka, Emirates has over the past two years supported a children's
home accommodating about 400 orphans from the north and east. "This
concert and the CEO's conference following it will help generate
greater awareness about the issues facing thousands of underprivileged
children in this country." |
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