Pay what you want at the Love for the Bees concert, but do remember that proceeds from the Valentine’s Day fundraiser could blossom into something bigger — literally. Native wildflower seeds and starts will be purchased and planted throughout Asheville with funds from the show, which features musicians Juan Holiday (lead singer of Secret B-Sides) and Oso Rey (solo artist, Soulgrass Rebellion, Debrissa & the Bear King).
In addition to solo sets, Holiday and Rey have planned a duo performance and plenty of guest appearances by friends and colleagues — a move they hope will lead to “cross pollination” of Asheville’s musical talent.
“Buzz by and show some love!” encourages the event press release. The 21 and up concert, a collaboration among Western North Carolina group Bee City USA, Buncombe Alternatives, Inc. and Monarch Rescue, starts at the One Stop on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m.
More from event organizers:
Local musicians, Juan Holladay, Oso Rey (and friends) will be performing at the One Stop (55 College Street) on Valentine’s Day evening, February 14th starting at 8pm and going until late. In collaboration with Bee City USA, these musicians are dedicating the event as a show of Love for the Bees. All proceeds from the show are going to buy native wildflower seeds and starts, which will be planted throughout Asheville, this coming spring. This show is open to the public, ages 21+, and the cover is ‘pay what you want’ at the door.
Juan Holladay is the lead singer and songwriter for the Secret B-Sides, and will be playing a solo set, with some songs familiar to B-Sides fans, plus material that pre-dates the B-Sides, as well as new songs and song ideas. At his day job, Juan holds the position of Community Development with Buncombe Alternatives, Inc., a restorative justice organization that works with youths involved with the Department of Juvenile Justice. Juan will be planting native wildflowers with the youths that he mentors, beginning this March. Love for the Bees will help provide funds to purchase plants needed for Juan’s workgroups. More information about Juan’s band, the Secret B-Sides can be found at thesecretb-sides.com.
Oso Rey is a singer-songwriter and producer who ‘s music has been an undercurrent in the Asheville scene since he performed as Oso Rey & Soulgrass Rebellion, and more recently in his electronic-based collaboration with Debrissa Mckinney, as Debrissa & the Bear King. Oso often sits in on drums for various other acts, and also curates his own freeform musical showcase, called Bridge Over Asheville (BOA) every Wednesday night. However, on February 14th, at the One Stop, Oso brings his renaissance-man skills–on guitar, drums, vocals, and electronic beats–in support of the bees, and other pollinators who depend on native wildflowers. Listen to Oso’s latest project, Debrissa & the Bear King, at soundcloud.com/debrissaandthebearking.
Juan and Oso will be playing solo sets, playing duo with each other, and calling many other talented friends on stage for an evening showcasing cross-pollination of Asheville’s musical talent, coming together in Love for the Bees.
The cost for this show will be ‘pay what you want at the door’, with the intention of making Love for the Bees a part, if the not the entirety, of any love-birds’ Valentine’s Day plans. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; those who are able to give a few dollars, to help feed bees and other local pollinators, are welcomed. Buzz by and show some love!
Proceeds from the event will go to buy native wildflower seeds and starts. These plants will go in the ground this upcoming spring as part of a larger effort to bolster the local supply of food and habitat for local bees and other pollinators, including migrating Monarch butterflies. More information about what is happening concerning pollinators in Asheville and the surrounding area, can be found at Bee City USA’s website, beecityusa.org.
Also, another organization that works in tandem with Bee City USA is Monarch Rescue: monarchrescue.org.
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