Food Bank sponsors world music at Wingfield

We may not be in as dire straights as people in southern Africa, where severe drought has left seven million people in six countries at risk of starvation. At least Nevadans faced with paying the rent or buying groceries have a few options. One source of help is the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. The Food Bank offers emergency food pantries, senior meal programs and the Kids Café, which provides free weekday meals for kids in high-risk neighborhoods.

Nearly three-quarters of those using the Food Bank’s emergency pantry are women, nearly all of whom have children under 18. A quarter of those getting food are elderly individuals, many of whom had to choose between eating and paying their utility bills or their prescription drug tabs. More than half of the folks getting assistance in Nevada had a household income of less than $10,000 annually.

To build awareness of the hunger problem in Nevada—and give the community a chance to hear some world music live at Wingfield Park, the Food Bank has lined up a Food for the Soul concert series for Wednesday nights during July’s Artown festival. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 or non-perishable canned food items. The two-hour concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Note: If you can’t make the concerts, but still want to help the hungry in northern Nevada, Scolari’s Food and Drug stores are offering Food for the Soul prepackaged food donations for $4.99. You can buy a bag and drop it off in a collection barrel at the stores.

Here’s the music lineup:

July 3

Dr. Didg—An eclectic mix of didgeridoo and keyboards, guitar, bass and drums combines primal rhythms with funk-rock electronics.

July 10

Jaka—This world beat marimba band offers a fusion of Congolese rumba with Western funk.

July 17

Philip Hamilton Group Trio—Soulful jazz and R&B layered over the blended sounds of African rhythms and Caribbean beats.

July 24

Sol y Canto—Acoustic percussion, vocal and guitar ensemble drawn from Latin American traditions.

July 31

Davis Gaines—This versatile actor/singer/recording artist will perform the "gala closing" of Artown.