On the road again

With 15 concerts under its belt, Country Roads takes the stage once again on March 16 at the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

It was an area once occupied by the LTTE. Caught in the crossfire, its people were displaced. But they have now returned, eager to begin a new life. Obviously, this is no easy task. And they need all the help they can get. With this in mind, Colombo’s favourite country music concert- Country Roads will make its 16th journey towards Vellavelli in Batticaloa to reach out to the 14,000 children residing in this area.

Fortunately, the only school in the area was left relatively unharmed, apart from needing a few repairs. The immediate request made by these children and the community of Vellavelli, was for a library of their own. And this is what the Country Music Foundation, in association with Save the Children, UK and the Periyaporativupattu Pradesha Development Rehabilitation Organization (PPDRO)- a community building organization in Batticaloa hopes to do.

“I began Country Roads with the purpose of really reaching out to people who needed help,” says Feizal Samath, President of the Country Music Foundation. “Through my experiences as a journalist, I have found that, in some cases, a story can do only so much; it is possible that in a short while, it could be forgotten. So I began this venture 20 years ago, with what I thought would be a one-off fund raising concert.”

But such was the response that 15 concerts later, Country Roads takes the stage once again on March 16 at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. This year’s show will feature some leading lights in the country music scene. The Mavericks, one of the top country and western bands in Germany, will make their 13th appearance at the upcoming concert with their brand of lively music. The Mavericks, in fact, will be performing a few days before the concert, for some of the children whom the proceeds of the concert will reach.

London-based folk singer and song writer Astrid Brooke who mesmerised the audience at the last Country Roads concert with her strong, hypnotic voice and songs of beauty and heartbreak, will be performing again at Country Roads XVI.

Making her first appearance at the show is Amelie Chevalier, folk singer, songwriter and bass player. A singer who’s been in a jazz duo, a function band and performed as a session vocalist for artists in the UK, Amelie is also a dancer and choreographer. Her collaborative efforts have been with The Irrepressibles and Future Cinema at events such as Lattitude Festival and the Thames Festival 2007.

Local favourites at the show will be the Country Revival Band- (a mixed combination of the founders of the Country Music Foundation), Anno Domino, the five member group with a repertoire of blues, folk, country and rock music, and the Cosmic Rays, Sri Lanka’s only country music band.

Through these concerts, the Country Music Foundation has raised millions of rupees over the years towards the cause of disadvantaged children, using the money to build pre-schools, main school buildings, provide learning and teaching materials, school building material, libraries, books, drinking water facilities, mosquito nets for 1500 children and their families, and a range of other supportive services to benefit needy children.

This year too the aim as always, is to help the children whilst enjoying an evening of great country sounds. Tickets for Country Road, priced at Rs. 1000, 750 and 500 will be available at Cargills Food City outlets.