November 11 is Veterans Day.
Last year, the Veterans National Entertainment Workshop (VNEW) Veterans Concert was scheduled to appear at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, when the Woolsey Fire took center stage instead.
This year, on Saturday, November 9, 2-4 p.m., the talented group of U.S. military veteran singers and musicians will perform original songs they have written themselves as an expression of their lives, loves, challenges, and joys, as well as popular favorites, standards, Country-Western, rock, folk, bluegrass and pop—all sung from the heart.
Many U.S. veterans deal with emotional and coping issues such as PTSD, alcohol and drug abuse, family stress, work issues, homelessness, and more. Many times, veterans find it difficult to communicate their emotions, feel that their voices go unheard, and that people don’t understand them.
Film producer Dennis Passaggio, community activist Kandi Reyes, and the late film director, Ted Post, all experienced these issues within their families. Coming from entertainment and community engagement backgrounds, they founded the Veterans National Entertainment Workshop (VNEW), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, to help veterans deal with these issues through performance, music, and song. (vnew.org)
By sponsoring music workshops, VNEW gives them the opportunity to tell their stories in music and song through working with music professionals to polish their craft and find community among other veterans and musicians.
This event promises to be an afternoon filled with music and patriotism honoring those who serve. The lineup (subject to change) includes Keith Carrington, Richard Desiato, Andy Hill and Renee Safier, Oscar Jordan, Sonny King, Tony Selvage, The Swing Dolls, Jorge Valcárcel and Boxcar, Renée Wahl and more to be announced.
Make it an afternoon and bring a picnic lunch! Wheelchair and special assistance accessible.
Tickets: VIP reserved seats, $40 donation; Open seating, $20 donation; FREE for current military, veterans and immediate family; $20 donation for special video stream of the concert. A $5 service charge per order (no service charge for free tickets). Order online at vnew.org.
A portion of each ticket is tax deductible. Funds go to support veterans coping with substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and homelessness.
Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum is an historic outdoor amphitheatre in the woods of Topanga Canyon with a picnic area. It is located at 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290. Saturday, November 9, 2-4 p.m.
