(Bethlehem, PA) – Tape Swap Radio, the Lehigh Valley independent music series airing on WDIY 88.1 FM, has announced it will partner with Homebase Skateshop for its next live concert in the Ice House Tonight Series on Friday, April 29, 2016. The show will serve as the kick-off fundraiser for Homebase’s after-school skate program at Donegan Elementary School in Bethlehem.
The show will be held at the Charles A. Brown Ice House on Sand Island in Bethlehem and will feature live music from Lehigh Valley artists Brother JT and Daytime Cleaners as well as Philadelphia-based indie pop band, Mercury Girls. The event will be the first stop on Mercury Girls’ 2016 tour in support of their new 7” single, “Ariana,” the band’s debut release on Oakland, California’s Slumberland Records.
Donegan Elementary is ready to work with Homebase to start a program which will teach kids how to skate, but Homebase first needs to raise money to purchase equipment and pads for the students. Tape Swap Radio co-founders Shamus McGroggan and Matt Molchany thought the program was a perfect fit for their Ice House show.
“Since we started Tape Swap’s concert series at the Ice House last year, we’ve made it a point to use these shows to raise money for sustainable community organizations,” McGroggan said. “Since the skating community and the DIY music community in the Valley are so closely linked, we are excited to be able to help Homebase get this program off the ground.”
Andy Po, owner of Bethlehem’s Homebase Skateshop, got the idea for the after-school skate program when he noticed that Donegan students would watch the skaters at the Bethlehem Skateplaza. “A few years ago, we were able to work with the City of Bethlehem to build an amazing concrete skatepark that’s free for the skaters and BMXer’s to use right down the street from the school,” Po said. “The only issue is, the neighborhood is impoverished and most of the kids who live in the area, and attend the school, can’t afford quality boards.”
Proceeds from the show will be donated to the after-school skate program. Attendees are encouraged to bring boards and pads in good condition to donate to the program the night of the show. There will also be a raffle featuring items donated by Lehigh Valley businesses and organizations including Eskandalo!, The Alternative Gallery, and Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations.
The show will be the third and final concert for Tape Swap Radio in the 2015-16 Ice House Tonight season. In the last six months, McGroggan and Molchany have used Tape Swap Radio’s Ice House concerts to raise money for The Center for Animal Health & Welfare in Easton and WDIY 88.1 FM, Lehigh Valley’s Community NPR Station.
– Quick Info –
Bands: Brother JT, Mercury Girls, Daytime Cleaners Where: The Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St, Bethlehem, PA 18018 When: Friday, April 29, 2016. Doors at 7:00 PM; music at 8:00 PM Admission: $10 tickets, $8 with current student ID Proceeds Donated To: Homebase Skateshop’s After-School Skate Program All ages; complimentary alcoholic drink with admission for 21+ More info: http://icehousetonight.com
Information Provided By:
Shamus McGroggan
http://tapeswapradio.com/
