BLAKE SHELTON, DAVE MATTHEWS, ROGER DALTREY JOIN THE LIST OF ARTISTS WHO WILL “LIFT UP” WITH LEVL UP FEST
Entertainment Industry Stands Up for 12 Million People Behind the Scenes of the Devastated Live Events Industry on December 16th
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 11, 2020)— Live Events Lift Up Festival, also known as LEVL UP Fest, announced today that Blake Shelton, Dave Matthews, and Roger Daltrey will join more than 25 artists and entertainers who are stepping up for the 12 million people who work behind the scenes of live entertainment and events across the United States. Live streaming from the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Wednesday, December 16 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, LEVL UP Fest is a benefit for the entertainment and events industry by the entertainment and events industry. Just in time for the Holidays, through a night of music and stories, LEVL UP Fest will entertain the audience while lifting up and giving hope to a workforce that has been decimated due to the global pandemic. The industry has collapsed under the weight of Covid-19, leaving nearly 10 million event pros unemployed and uncertain about what their future holds.
Blake Shelton, who earlier this week earned his 28th #1 hit on the country charts with “Happy Anywhere”, joins the lineup along with Dave Matthews, Jimmie Allen, Jason Mraz, Michael Ray, Shy Carter, The War And Treaty, John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls, Dispatch, Keala Settle, Mt. Joy, Augustana, Indigo Girls, Lucie Silvas, Annie Bosko, Bre Kennedy, CJ Hammond & Sloane, and Veridia. Also added this week to the performance line up is Public, Michael Cerveris, the McCrary Sisters and singer/songwriter, Sam Wade. Along with the McCrary Sisters, Sam will deliver a very special debut performance of an original song that he co-wrote with LEVL UP Music Supervisor and long-time Composer/Conductor for The Who, Keith Levenson. The anthemic song, aptly titled “12 Million” was written by the pair for LEVL UP Fest as a tribute to all those that the event seeks to represent. Making special appearances will be rock legend, Roger Daltrey, actor/comic and poet, Steve Connell, Michael McDonald, Kenny G, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, All-American Rejects’ Nick Wheeler, Greta Van Fleet, Adam Gardner from Guster, Ray Parker Jr., Jerry Dipizzo from OAR, Taye Diggs, The Fray’s Ben Wysoki, the Irish rock band, The Harleys accompanied by Dublin Gospel Choir, Jim Sheridan of Ireland’s The Late Late Show, and Co-Host of Sirius XM The Highway, Storme Warren. Also from SiriusXM, Nicole Ryan from Hits 1 The Morning Mash Up will host the evening live from The Ryman.
LEVL UP Fest Co-Founder and SVP of Sports & Fan Entertainment for PRG, Eileen Valois, commented, “Creating an incredible live show is what our team, and all of our production partners, do best. Speaking up, drawing attention to ourselves…not so much. We’re an industry of people who work behind the curtain, blending into the background, making our artists, entertainers, and guests the focal point in everything we do. We’re humbled to now have so many of them supporting us, showing their appreciation for their crews, and amplifying the message of Live Events Lift Up Festival.”
Joining the entertainers are a long list of sponsors who have helped make this benefit possible. Added to that list this week is Presenting Sponsor, Complete Health Partners, a Nashville-based healthcare clinic. Complete Health is donating COVID-19 testing and medical consultation services for both rehearsal and the live performance in order to reduce the risk of spread of the virus. More than 100 rapid tests will be administered by Complete Health Partners. “As a local healthcare clinic, we’re here to serve our community, first and foremost. Our neighbors and our friends right here in Nashville are the people who make live music happen all over the country, and we know they’re hurting right now. We’re glad we can play a part in making this benefit event happen,” said Dr. Ty Babcock, owner of Complete Health Partners.
MORE ON LEVL UP
LEVL UP FEST SPONSORS
The full list of sponsors and in-kind partners for LEVL UP Fest includes: Complete Health Partners, Ultimate Ears, Shure, Mertz Crew, The Ryman Auditorium, Noelle Hotel Nashville, PRG, TOURtech, Show Makers, Event Safety Alliance, Fuse Technical Group, Clair Global, Road Radios, Go West Creative Group, Infinity Studios, Auntie Em, Sooner Rae Creative, Fourth Wall Home Design, Sightline, Sterling Engagements, SE Expressions, Remickz Marketing, Fustercluck, Janea Design, NoCap Shows, Twitch, On Tour Logistics, Pioneer Coach. Kent Marcus of Marcus & Colvin, LLP, Patra Sinner of Sodoma Law, Vickie Nauman of CrossBorderWorks, Tour Photographer, Starlet Burney, Andy Reuter, Soundcheck Studio, Eastwind Screenprint.
WHERE TO WATCH
LEVL UP Fest will be a free virtual event and featured on NoCap Shows and Twitch. Grammy-nominated producer and musician Cisco Adler says, “Almost my whole adult life I have been touring in one shape or form and the road crews on my team and the venue crews that welcomed us and helped us put on a great show are all part of my extended touring family. They really make it possible for artists like me to do what we do, and they are truly unsung heroes. They are also the first to be hit hard by a situation like this so part of our mission at NoCap is to get shows happening again and get these good people back to work. This cause that LEVL up is supporting is the essence of that as well and it was only right that we get involved and give back to those who have given so much to us and our fans. It wasn’t ever a question.”
ABOUT THE BENEFICIARIES OF LEVL UP FEST
The LEVL UP Fest team says their top priority is to support the people behind live events. They also feel the lessons learned in 2020 demand that they pay attention to coming back stronger, more resilient and more diverse than they were before. To achieve this, they’ve named three beneficiaries for funds raised by the festival. MusiCares and The Roadie Clinic are two of those organizations whose focus is on critical assistance in times of need and mental health and wellness support. With an eye on the future, LEVL UP Fest named the Country Music Association Foundation (CMAF) as their third beneficiary with funds to be used for the CMA EDU program, supporting LEVL UP’s goal of strengthening and diversifying the industry through outreach, education and job placement. Donations can be made at any time now through December at www.liveeventsliftup.org.
HOW TO SUPPORT LEVL UP FEST
Visit www.liveeventsliftup.org to learn more about the festival and shop their merch store, where 50% of every purchase will be donated back to LEVL UP Fest. Text “LIFTUP” to 707070 to donate to LEVL UP Fest and their beneficiaries. Follow on IG @LEVLUPFEST and on FB @LEVLUPFestival and stay tuned for exclusive artist interviews and features. Watch the show on Wednesday, December 16th at 8:30PM.
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