Artists for the Prevention of School Shootings and Youth Violence has announced a docu-concert @ City Winery in Nashville November 30, 2022 produced by In Plain View Entertainment. Proceeds will benefit Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a national non-profit organization with a mission to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. SHP also advances school safety, and youth mental health at the state and federal levels through non-partisan policy and partnerships.[DL1]
Artists for the Prevention of School Shootings and Youth Violence was formed by professional musician and Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund CEO Mark Barden and film director Rick Korn to help bring awareness to school safety programs, like SHP’s Know the Signs, and other ways to keep our children safe in school - a non-partisan movement to help prevent school shootings and youth violence.
The City Winery show is part of a series of docu-concerts leading up to the release of A Father’s Promise, a feature documentary about the incredible journey of world-class musician and Sandy Hook parent, Mark Barden who survived unthinkable tragedy to become a force for change, and in doing so rediscovered his lost passion for music. The film honors the 10-year remembrance of the 26 children and educators that were taken on December 14, 2012 in our nation’s worst school shooting tragedy.
“My 3 children, James, Natalie and Daniel were very intimately connected to my music and are all musicians in their own right,”says Mark Barden, Co-Founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise. “For me, playing music with my children has always been indescribably powerful and joyous. After Daniel’s murder, I was unable to find comfort in music. Over time, and with the help and support of my family, friends and the music community, I have been able find my way back my first, real self through creating and performing music again. This documentary project has become another way for me to connect and heal through music and honor Daniel’s life and memory.”
The Promise Band docu-concerts series is a unique and inspirating live event that mixes live performances with video content that tells Mark’s incredible journey of preventing gun violence and the healing power of music. The Promise Band (house band) led by Jimmy Vivino and Mark, includes Natalie Barden, Grammy nominated Freddie Ravel, Eric Finland, John Conte, Rich Pagano who will be joined by various artists, including Sheryl Crow, Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, Alternate Routes, and more. Unlike traditional benefit concerts where guest artists perform a two-song set and leave, our docu-concerts spread the guest artists throughout the show playing songs of theirs (and others) that fit into the storyline. The Nashville event will be filmed and included in the A FATHER’S PROMISE documentary. Tickets on sale now and can be purchased HERE
The film tells this powerful tragedy-to-transformation story with performances from Mark's fellow musicians and friends Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Tim McGraw, Sheryl Crow, John Lennon, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Alternate Routes, Jimmy Vivino, Aztec Two Step, David Shaw, Bernie Williams, Freddie Ravel and many more, along with Mark's own soulful guitar adding a powerful musical element intertwined into the storyline.
“Mark and I created Artists for the Prevention of School Shooting and Youth Violence to get people activated around the one cause that we all can agree on, and that is keeping our children and grandchildren safe. We want to bring awareness to parents, students, schools, and communities that there are effective non-political solutions available to them. Partnering with music artists and other celebrities enables us to deliver that message in an entertaining but effective way.” said Rick Korn director of the film.
