Concert
FOD is an acronym for Friends of Danny and the concert tour features many of the musicians who played in bands or jammed with Danny while he was alive, as well as many who never knew him but connect with his story. FODfest is a unique performance format: part song-swap, part jam session, part concert. Most of the participating musicians are meeting for the first time on stage.

Time and PlaceDate:
Friday, October 10, 2008
Time:
7:30pm – 11:00pm
Location: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Street: 14 Castle Street
City/Town: Great Barrington, MA

Since Daniel Pearl’s death, there have been many attempts to honor his memory and legacy, many of which revolve around music, because Daniel was a terrific musician always found other musicians to jam with no matter where he wound up.

Several years ago, a Berkshire based effort called FODFest, which stands for Friends of Daniel, was begun, and from its casual roots as a backyard barbecue it has now grown to a cross-country concert tour, featuring nationally known artists as well as local musicians in each town it performs.

This year’s tour kicks off in Great Barrington on Friday night at the Mahaiwe at 7:30, in a free concert featuring such well known names as the Hunger Mountain Boys, JoAnne Spies, SONiA of Disappear fear, Todd Mack, Chris Merenda, Eliot Osborn, Willie Watkins, and Seth Rogovoy, who worked with Pearl at the Berkshire Eagle for a few short years in the early 1990s. This community-based event is sure to be a musical highlight as well as a spiritual, transcendent experience for audience and musician alike. While admission is free, contributions at the door are welcome.

Contact InfoPhone:
4135280100
Email:
info@mahaiwe.org

This Friday, October 10, 2008, would have been Daniel Pearl’s 45th birthday. The Wall Street Journal reporter, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by Muslim terrorists in Pakistan six years ago this coming February, got his start in journalism in the Berkshires, first at the North Adams Transcript, and then at the Berkshire Eagle.

FODfest is an annual concert tour honoring the life & ideals of the late Wall St. Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who lost his life to terrorists in Pakistan in 2002. In addition to being a journalist, Danny was a talented musician who played a variety of instruments including fiddle & mandolin, and was a classically trained violinist. Wherever he lived, Danny was actively involved in the local music scene, and wherever he traveled, he sought out local jam sessions.

FOD is an acronym for Friends of Danny and the concert tour features many of the musicians who played in bands or jammed with Danny while he was alive, as well as many who never knew him but connect with his story. FODfest is a unique performance format: part song-swap, part jam session, part concert. Most of the participating musicians are meeting for the first time on stage.

Danny was a firm believer in the power of music to bring people together regardless of ethnic, religious, cultural, or economic differences. FODfest celebrates that ideal and takes place every October as part of Daniel Pearl World Music Days which is organized by the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

FODfest is in its fourth year and is organized by musician, songwriter, and producer Todd Mack, a former band mate and close friend of Pearl’s. The concerts are free and open to the public, and in lieu of an admission charge, donations are collected at each performance to help offset tour & production costs.