WORCESTER — The ‘Turn It Down’ All-Stars are excited to be returning to the BrickBox Theater to showcase a classic album for a good cause.
The concert happening at the 20 Franklin St. venue on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. will feature a stripped-down version of one of the biggest selling albums of all time, Pink Floyd’s timeless 1973 masterpiece “Dark Side of the Moon.” The event benefits Pernet Family Health Service, a family-centered provider of home health care and early intervention resources for families whose programs annually support over 12,500 people in Worcester and Central Mass.
“Taking such a big album on with just acoustic instruments may seem reckless and it probably is…but fear not, we got this!” said official event information. “With the help of this year’s featured artist, Matt Sowersby aka Mowesby, we will bring you to the Dark Side and back.”
This is the fifth ‘Turn it Down’ All-Stars charity concert organized by Jim and Ellen Walsh, which have netted $17,000 total so far. The couple has lived in West Boylston for over 30 years, and Ellen serves as the project director for the yearly affair while her husband “is the brainchild behind the whole thing.”
“Jim picks a classic album that parents used to say, ‘Turn it Down!’ and we create a semi-acoustic version of said album,” Ellen said. “It brings out people who love that particular artist and album and makes new fans of these iconic pieces of work.”
All of the concerts have been held at the theater inside the Jean McDonough Arts Center, a culture hub located in the heart of Worcester operated by The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. Jim plays drums and sings in the band and fellow musicians Reed Brewer, John Cloutier, and Sean Ryder are returning to the stage with him and will be joined this year by Tom Herbert and Serena Kilsmith.
“The feature artist and opener are always different,” Ellen said. “We have worked with local favorites such as Giuliano, The Big-League Collective, and Chuck and Mud and Walter Crockett. We not only work with these folks, but they also become friends which is a huge bonus.”
They connected with Mowesby through the Worcester area music scene. The Leominster resident will be helping them “go big” with their fifth iteration of the benefit concert that will feature classic songs from “Dark Side of the Moon,” an album that has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide.
“It is a sonic masterpiece and the songs are deep, thoughtful reflections on the mental and social state of the modern individual, and the ever more complex society one must navigate,” said official event information. “It is as relevant today as it was 53 years ago.”
Mowesby released his debut EP with his post-folk band Mowesby & the Northern Flicker in April and is thrilled to be included in this year’s running of the event.
“Being the featured artist for this performance is a bit of a full-circle moment for me, and one I’m truly grateful for,” he shared. “Growing up, Pink Floyd was always playing in my family’s home, and I developed a deep connection to this album and their other work. David Gilmour was one of the musicians who inspired me to learn guitar, and Pink Floyd continues to influence my songwriting to this day. Having the opportunity to step into this album alongside so many talented local musicians is pretty special.”
Last year’s ‘Turn It Down’ All-Stars show at the BrickBox Theater sold out and through it they raised $7,000, more than the first three concerts combined. They decided to keep Pernet as the beneficiary for the second year in a row, with Ellen saying “we hope to have them always be as they were the first organization that we chose that is long-standing.
“They do a lot for the Kelly Square/Green Island area including offering supplies thru their food pantry, daycare services, after school services, dinner provisions, and gifts for the holiday season,” she said of the Worcester based nonprofit that has 70 years of supporting and strengthening local families under its belt.
When asked what inspired her and Jim to launch the annual benefit concert, Ellen said her husband “wanted to start a music project that keeps motivations pure and does something good for the world.”
“We feel given the current political climate, mostly at the federal level, we want to do anything we can to give back,” she said.
The Saturday evening show will close with a handful of other songs from Pink Floyd’s catalogue and Ellen said they are “so psyched to be presenting Carlos Odria and Rioflow as our opening act.”
“They are amazing. You won’t want to miss a minute,” she said of the fellow talented musicians who round out the evening’s lineup.
When asked what they appreciate about people coming out to support their fundraising efforts and enjoy the good music they provide, Ellen had this to say.
“That they come out for a fun night and help us give back to the community and really enjoy what we do.”
Tickets for the ‘Turn It Down’ All-Stars show can be purchased for $48 each at The Hanover Theatre box office at 2 Southbridge St. Worcester, by calling 877-571-7469, or online at thehanovertheatre.org/tidas.
Original article
Comments