Those looking to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina will get their chance this Friday in the most fitting way for the city of Memphis - music.
University of Memphis alumnus Robert Allen Parker is using his influence as a Memphis musician to put together a benefit concert for those suffering from the hurricane.
"This concert will directly benefit New Orleans musicians who were affected and their families," Parker said. "I wanted to help out in a way that was more personal, so all of the money raised will be donated to The New Orleans Musician's Clinic."
This clinic's purpose is to help New Orleans musicians who are now out of work or have lost property because of Hurricane Katrina. They aid in relocating victims and supplying food, clothing and other general things needed by disaster victims.
Parker is a part of The Broken Strings Movement, which is a collection of local diverse bands that play everything from stoner rock to blues and soul.
"After I released my debut album in 2003, I had a lot of problems promoting it because it was such a hybrid of music and that's hard to market," Parker said. "I got together with some other Memphis bands that were also hard to classify and we started The Broken Strings Movement, which is basically a loose organization of Memphis musicians that help each other promote music."
The benefit concert will feature Memphis bands like Bella Sun, whose music can be described as neo-soul mixed with folk. Adam to Ashes plays a mix of alternative and new metal, and Robert Allen Parker and The Amerikan Band is described as stoner rock similar to Queens of the Stone Age.
"The great thing about this concert is that each band sounds completely different from the others," Parker said.
The concert will be this Friday, Sept. 23 at Neil's Music Room at 1935 Madison Ave. beginning at 8:30 p.m. and ending at 1:30 a.m.
The cover charge is $5, but those with a Louisiana ID will be admitted free.
"I thought the idea of a benefit concert was great because it helps with donations but it is also a mental escape from everything that is going on," Parker said. "It allows people to enjoy life and music for a few hours and give the other parts of life a rest."
The bands playing are hoping to bring in lots of funds to help the victims, but they are also looking to express themselves.
"I want to use my art to help with the negative things that are happening," said Val Joyner, a member of Bella Sun. "I think people should do what they do and use their talents to make money for people who need it."
Parker is hoping that everyone in Memphis will do something to help in some way.
"New Orleans is like our sister city," he said. "So I hope people will either come to this concert or donate to The Red Cross or some other organization. But I think that if we all work together it will make a difference."
