25 bands, a block party and one great cause: Sunset Blue Haiti Relief Music Fest
Help Haiti while having some fun jammin’ to some of South Florida’s finest bands.. This Sunday, Jan. 24 join Sunset Blue 
Block Party for one heck of a fundraiser at Destination 33rd St., located two blocks north of Oakland Park Blvd. off A-1-A. The event will kick off at 3 p.m. and go through 12 am, with the party heading inside of Fishtales after midnight.
Click to RSVP for the event on Facebook!
Listen live as 25+ bands donate their time to raise money for Caring House Project, a non-profit that has invested over $3 million dollars creating self-sufficient villages in Haiti. Caring House has already been in Haiti since the 7.0 earthquake and rescued survivors. They are currently getting a team of doctors and nurses back to Haiti and will be going back and forth all year and in the future to help rebuild Haiti.
“We put a feeler out on Facebook that the musical community should do something for the disaster—we have a venue to do it and everyone just jumped on board,” said Jimmy Pagano, event organizer. “I checked out Caring House’s website and they are 100% direct aid with little to no administrative cost and you can see results. They’ve been building for many years and that’s exactly what Haiti is going to need in the years to come.”
During the event, Michael Welch and Timepiece, Jimmy Fiano and Friends, Hush Hush, Memphis Soul Review, Wild Eyed Cats, Category 5, Groove Line, Highway Sons, Boogie Brothers, Andy G. and Company, Almost Blue, Caution Automatic, Collaboration, The Blues Evolution, DAPHNA Rose, Innercourt, Nizri Trio, Fly By Night, Tony Martelli, John Melnick, Urban Blues Express and Jimmy Pagano and the All-Starz are all expected to take the stage during the 12-hour fundraising event.
Sponsors are Fishtales Bar & Grill, 33rd St. Wine Bar, Dive Bar and Blue Jean Blues. All proceeds raised from raffles of great items such as wine baskets, restaurant gift certificates, spa days and more will be donated to Caring House Project. There will be manned collection sites for anyone wanting to donate directly to Caring House Project – cash accepted, but direct check preferred. A portion of the proceeds (after expenses) from food and drinks at Sunset Blue will also be donated to Caring House Project.
“I’ve worked with many members of the Haitian community since 1983, and to this day, work closely with the Haitian/Dominican owners of 33rd & Dine French café,” said Candace Proctor, owner of 33rd St. Wine Bar and former owner of Chez Porky’s. “When we saw the devastation in Haiti, all the businesses on 33rd St. immediately came together to create a fundraiser.”
All restaurants will have food and drink specials. Admission to the Sunset Blue Haiti Relief Music Fest is free. Take the Water Taxi to the Il Lugano Hotel at 3333 NE 32nd Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, off the Intracoastal where Ocean View Rickshaw Pedi-Cab will give you a free ride to the event. Parking is free after 6pm, with parking only 50 cents an hour prior to that. The Pedi-cab will also be available to take people back and forth to their cars during the event.
Also making an appearance are several former football stars, including Daryll Porter who played for Buffalo Bills and ended his career with the Miami Dolphins. Also Benny and Brian Blades – both University of Miami football superstars – Benny played for Detroit Lions and Brian played for Seattle Seahawks will be attending the event. All will be signing autographs.
Pagano said he is still accepting raffle prize donations. There is also booth space available for $50 for the day for any business wanting to promote their business or help the Caring House. Contact Jimmy Pagano at 954-687-2840 or find him on Facebook under Jimmy Pagano.
