By Julie Hofler
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
New York band to play at Beta for relief fund
If the Alderman stacks don't sound like the best way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon, try an outdoor concert that will benefit charities. This Saturday, three bands will be performing outside the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at the first annual Betafest.
The band 2 Skinnee J's will headline the concert, which also will include performances by the Richmond-based Infectious Organisms and the band Alli with an I.
Originally, all of the concert's proceeds were intended for the Children's Burn Awareness Program, Beta's national philanthropy. But in light of the terrorist attacks last week, Beta now will donate 25 percent of the proceeds to the American Red Cross and will take donations at the door.
"Clearly this has been a recent development that is a much more pressing issue right now," said Isaac Gradman, a fourth-year College student and member of Beta, referring to the Red Cross donations. "A lot of people have been rallying around this."
In the past Beta's annual charity events have included soccer and basketball tournaments, but the concert idea was a new endeavor initiated at the end of last semester.
"We've always wanted to do a big, day-long concert," Gradman said.
"We wanted to start something that will last for years to come," said Ted Stehney, a fourth-year Commerce student and member of Beta.
This won't be the first time the hip-hop alternative style of 2 Skinnee J's has hit Charlottesville. Stehney said the group usually sells out at Trax two times a year and is well-known among University students.
Stehney said that the members of Beta are big fans of 2 Skinnee J's and they started pursuing the band for this event before they had even started booking.
"Our type of music is under-represented at the University," Gradman said. "We like more punk and hip-hop," while most of the other fraternities center on southern rock, country and bluegrass music, he added.
Originally from New York City, 2 Skinnee J's has toured with Infectious Organisms in the past. Gradman said that they thought having both bands perform at Betafest would "create a great dynamic."
Tickets for Betafest are on sale this week on the Lawn, at Plan 9 Records, the Beta House and at 4 University Court on 14th Street. The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
"This is an amazing opportunity for students to come together and have a great time," said Gradman. "The events of the last couple weeks have been tragic and emotionally draining for everybody and this is a chance to let loose." He added that helping the two charities aided by the concert would be a great way for students to help and show solidarity.
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