Minnesota Musicians Join With Music Students To Raise Money For Music Education in Public Schools

    ST. PAUL, MN, April 21, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Funding for music education in the public schools continues to be reduced in budget cuts. The average teacher spends up to $1,000 of their own money every year on supplies for their classrooms. In response to this problem the country's largest private music education company, School of Rock, is hosting BEST OF MINNESOTA Rock Music Festival to raise funds for music education in Minnesota. Saturday, April 25, 2015. 12 noon - 6:30pm.

Minnesota Music Cafe, 499 Payne Ave., St Paul, has donated their venue to the cause and 10 of Minnesota's most notable professional musicians are sharing their time and talent by performing.

"This family-friendly, all ages event shines the spotlight on both the need for music education funding and the benefit of music education as 60 youth musicians and 10 professional musicians perform 6-1/2 hours of music created by Minnesota musicians," said Stacey Marmolejo, School of Rock Twin Cities Franchise Owner.

Musicians performing in the event include:
- Lori Barbero, Babes in Toyland
- Chad Hanks, American Head Charge
- Claudio Rivera, Motion City Soundtrack
- Kyle Kimm, France Camp (City Pages Rock Band of the Year 2014)
- Larry Wiegand, Crow (Best known for the song "Evil Woman," which went to #19 on the Billboard Top 100 and was covered by Black Sabbath.)
- Sean McPherson, Heiruspecs
- Paddy Costello, Dillinger 4
- Casey Smith, Scarlet Haze/Kat Perkins
- Mary Jane Alm, Emmy-award winning singer/songwriter and member of Minnesota Music Hall of Fame
- Eric Berg, The Regenerators

"We are so fortunate to have such a giving group of professional musicians in Minnesota," added Nate Beck, Co-Owner School of Rock Twin Cities Franchise.

Asked why he was participating in BEST OF MINNESOTA, Casey Smith explained, "Giving these kids a chance to play live with working professionals at real venues in the cities while raising money for music education? It's a no brainer, win-win situation! I'm more than happy to be a part of such a great event and hopefully getting more kids involved with music." In addition to continuing to perform, Smith also runs Minneapolis-based KnottBrite Studio.

Chad Hanks, bass player for Minneapolis industrial metal band "American Head Charge" appearance at BEST OF MINNESOTA comes on the heels of a two month tour which took AHC from House of Blues in Hollywood CA to The Opera House in Toronto Canada to several East Coast stops in NY, NJ, PA, MD, MA and back to the Midwest.

In their 2/13/15 article about Babes In Toyland, Rolling Stone magazine called the band a "groundbreaking trio" while LA's Premier Music Lifestyle blog, Grimy Goods, named Lori Barbero to the roster of the Top 20 female drummer of all time.

In addition to the tunes of the musicians appearing live, students will also perform songs by Bob Dylan, Brother Ali, Soul Asylum, Hold Steady, Suicide Commandos, Nato Coles & The Blue Diamond Band, Tina and the B-Sides, Gypsy, Steve Miller Band (did you know his drummer lives in Minnesota!) and more.

There will also be free games on the patio including bean bag toss, Frisbee golf, giant Jenga, sidewalk chalk and giant Connect 4 to keep younger, active kids engaged. Minnesota Music Cafe will offer a custom menu to expedite food service.

Tickets are $15 for 5+ years old.

Proceeds from the event go to AdoptAClassroom.org, Rock School Scholarship Fund and PACER's Bullying Prevention Center.

Learn more and buy tickets at BestofMN

School of Rock is the premier music education program for kids under 18 years old. Founded in 1998 in Philadelphia PA, there are now 150 locations in eight countries, including two in the Twin Cities (St Paul and Eden Prairie). Created on the premise that taking music lessons and never playing a gig is like going to basketball practice and never playing a game, School of Rock students participate in weekly private lessons and weekly group rehearsals which lead to performing live rock concerts in real rock venues.

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