City bands play for music education

International group Playing For Change teams up with local music initiative for charitable concert in city today

Indie music aficionados probably know of Live From The Console (LFTC), a monthly music initiative that offers city indie artistes a platform. The past two gigs saw bands like The Mayvns, Medusa and artistes like Alex Rintu and Siddharth Basrur perform.

The third edition of LFTC, which will take place in the city today, offers something special to its listeners. Sony Music and Oranjuice Entertainment, the organisers of the event, have teamed up with international non-profit organisation Playing For Change that uses music as a means of empowerment. This evening’s gig will see Airport and Bay Beat Collective, along with singer-songwriter KC Loy. The documentary Playing For Change: Peace Through Music will also be screened.

Says the foundation’s executive director and co-founder, Whitney Kroenke, “It’s a global day of action where musicians will perform on stages, cafés and street corners worldwide to raise money for music and arts education.” She adds that events today are confirmed in at least 25 countries across North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

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Till date, seven music schools and programmes have been created in countries including Ghana, Mali, Rwanda, and Nepal. Additionally, any user can log on to www.playingforchange. org and support various programmes by contributing money. “The funds have helped build structures, provide supplies, instruments as well as hire teacher,” Kroenke says.