WHITEFIELD, NH (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Skyline Music has signed on to co-sponsor the FODfest annual concert tour in honor of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl who was murdered by extremists in Pakistan in 2003.
In addition to being an award-winning journalist, Daniel was also an extremely talented musician, a classically trained violinist who played a variety of instruments. Wherever he lived, Daniel was actively involved in the local music scene, and wherever he traveled, he sought out local musicians and "jam" sessions. Daniel believed in the power of music to bring people together regardless of their differences.
"FOD" is an acronym for "Friends of Danny" that began when friends of Daniel came together around his 1999 marriage to Mariane Van Nevenhoff, who would later be portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the movie "A Mighty Heart."
FODfest began in October of 2005 as part of Daniel Pearl World Music Days, which is organized by the Daniel Pearl Foundation and celebrates Harmony for Humanity. The tour is organized by musician, songwriter, and producer Todd Mack, a former band mate and close friend of Daniel's. Now in its fourth year, FODfest has grown considerably from its informal beginnings as a backyard jam session to a full-blown, three week tour which will include nearly 20 shows on the East and West coasts. FODfest is presented in a unique performance format: part song-swap, part jam session, and part concert. The tour features several musicians who knew Daniel and played music with him while he was alive and many who never knew him, but who connect with his story. Most of the participating musicians will meet for the first time on stage the evening of the concert.
The event is non-profit and the concerts will all be free and open to the public. FODfest is a non-profit organization and all concerts are free and open to the public. In lieu of an admission charge, donations are collected at each performance to help offset tour and production costs. For more information please check here.
FODfest 2008 Tour Schedule:
10/10 – Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA
10/11 – Narrows Art Center, Fall River, MA
10/12 – Acoustic Café, Bridgeport, CT
10/13 – Sullivan Hall, NYC
10/14 – Iota, Arlington, VA
10/15 – The Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC
10/16 – The Handle Bar, Greenville, SC
10/17 – Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
10/18 – The Atlanta Room @ Smith's Olde Bar, Atlanta, GA
10/ 19 – The Basement, Nashville, TN
10/20 – Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
10/21 – White Eagle Pub, Portland, OR
10/22 – Axe and Fiddle, Cottage Grove, OR
10/24 – Starry Plough, Berkeley, CA
10/25 – TBA
10/26 – Hotel Café, Los Angeles, CA
-CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
