Grassroots Acoustica #26:
The Heart of Saturday Night Edition
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Talking Stick Coffee Lounge
1411C Lincoln Blvd @ California
Venice, CA
7-10 p.m.

CAST: Alan O'Day, Ben Carr, Jane Bolduc, Jeff Kossack, John Stowers, Mark Pocket Goldberg, Mark Islam, Vertigo Road, cameo Erica Sorenson, artists-in-residence Tom Gramlich & Byron Pfeifer with Dan Raziel.
TO BENEFIT:Reading To Kids (www.readingtokids.org)

On the second Saturday of every month, Reading For Kidsgathers an average of 1,180 underserved children & 470volunteers at8different L.A.-area elementary schools for book clubs to promote improved reading and learning skills in elementary schoolchildren & inspire a love of reading.

In its 10 years, Reading To Kids has flourished thanks to the volunteers, families, friends & community members who get involved and spread the word. But it's financial support that allows Reading To Kids to maintain and further expand the reading club program, purchase teacher-selected books for elementary school libraries in low-income communities, and fund book donations directly to children.

Cue: Grassroots Acoustica, which similarly gathers on the second Saturday of any given month and has raised a 2-year total of $17,322for Los Angeles-area non-profit orgs, all without ever charging a cover, and on Saturday, August 8, The Talking Stick's treasured tribe of troubadours & tale-tellers turns its attention to Reading To Kids for the 26th installment.

Host Mark Islamopens the 3-hour Heart Of Saturday Night Editionpromptly at 7 p.m.with an attempt at the titular Tom Waits tune before turning over the stage to a succession of singer/songwriter friends from the rolodex of revolving regulars to include multi-platinum artist/writer Alan O'Day, whose single Undercover Angel went to #1 in '77 and sold 2 million copies; Ben Carr, John Stowers, & Jeff Kossack, outstanding musicians in their own right who comprise the Westside Songwriters; Kim Kopp & Dawnia Dresser of Vertigo Roadwho are currently in the studio working on a new album due this autumn; singer/songwriter/upright bass player Mark Pocket Goldberg, himself host of Tujunga's weekly Pocket Goldberg & Friends; a Nick Kirgo-less cameo by Erica Sorensonof Otis; and, from Grassroots Acoustica's stable, Jane Bolducand artists-in-residence Tom Gramlich & Byron Pfeifer with Dan Razielwho can always be counted on to connect with the Coffee Loungecrowds -- and the cosmos -- one song at a time while coffers collect contributions for the causes.

Since 1999, Reading to Kids has given more than 76,050books to children who attend the reading clubs, donated more than 13,200books to school libraries, and volunteers have spent over 84,510hours reading to kids.

At the monthly reading clubs, pairs of volunteers read aloud to small groups of children, while their parents receive training on how to encourage their children to read at home. Kids, parents, teachers, and school libraries receive book donations at the end of the Reading Clubs. These are important donations, as 60 percent of low-income homes do not have age-appropriate reading materials for children.

Grassroots Acoustica #26: The Heart Of Saturday Night Edition is free & open to the public.While there is no cover charge to attend, 100% of any voluntary donations will directly benefit Reading To Kids.

To learn more about Reading To Kids' programs, volunteer opportunities and FAQs, or to make a secure & tax-deductible donation at any time, please visit www.readingtokids.org.

Reading to Kids is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the state of California and has been classified as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code.

GRASSROOTS ACOUSTICA NON-PROFITS TO DATE
Children Of The Night
The Blank Theatre Company
Project Angel Food
WeSpark
The Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation for Animal & Human Welfare
The Nicolette Larson Pediatric Endowment at Mattel Children's Hospital/UCLA
A New Way Of Life Reentry Project
Echo Park Film Center
Friends Of The Los Angeles River
Showing People Learning & Technology
School On Wheels
The Celebration Theatre
Shoes That Fit
Alzheimer's Association California Southland Chapter - Memory Walk
Braille Institute
House Of Hope
Much Love Animal Rescue
National Multiple Sclerosis Society Southern California Chapter Walk MS 2009
The Mimi La Rue Fund at Much Love Animal Rescue
The ALS Association Greater Los Angeles Chapter
This Way Out