Last year, long time concert and charity promoter Aaron Snukals launched a four concert series under the banner “Concerts for Our Own,” designed to raise money for three local charities. The chosen charities for last year included Breast Connect, Love Kitchen, and Special Spaces. As a result of the four shows, presented at the World’s Fair Amphitheatre, each charity was given $10,0000.
The series returns for 2024 and this year’s charities and artists were announced at a press conference held yesterday at the Amphitheatre. The location for the concerts will remain the same as last year, but the nights vary (they all fell on Thursday nights last year), and the charities have changed slightly.
One of the two new charities, the Joy of Music School, provides free music lessons to children and young people in the city. Executive Director Francis Graffeo expressed his gratitude for the organization being selected. He said the organization has provided music instruction to “thousands of kids and we are very proud to be a part of the musical legacy of Knoxville . . .” This year they celebrate their 25th anniversary, continuing to offer lessons from professional musicians and others, all of whom volunteer their time.
The single repeating charity, the Love Kitchen, started in 1986 and has grown over the years to the point that they provide 10,000 meals each month to those who are most in need. Director Martin Riggins expressed his appreciation for being included once more. He expressed his appreciation, as well for the support the city has shown the kitchen through donations and volunteer hours. He said it has allowed them to serve millions of meals over the last thirty eight years.
P.U.N.T. pediatric cancer collaborative completed this year’s list and was new to me. The charity was founded in 2004 by former NFL punter Brian Moorman and his wife Amber. Offering a range of assistance to families struggling through a pediatric cancer diagnosis, the east Tennessee group focuses locally on children who are patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. When a family in need is identified the group offers support up to and including paying mortgages, car payments, utilities, and more while their child is in treatment.
A range of sponsors help underwrite the event, including Visit Knoxville, Food City, Miller Lite and others. Among them, White Claw, will offer an additional perk for concert goers at this year’s series. A White Claw Lounge will give concert goers an additional space to hang out and have a beverage while listening to the show.
The series kicks off Thursday night, June 13, with Steve Augeri. Steve served as lead vocalist for Journey from 1998 – 2006. Taylor Nation, a Taylor Swift tribute act will perform Saturday night, July 6. Thursday night, August 15, Exodus, a Bob Marley Tribute band performs. Marshall Charloff and the Purple Xperience present their Prince Tribute on Friday, October 18th, the night before the Alabama football game. Local favorites Here Come the Mummies (a band of Nashville session musicians who cannot use their actual identities as a band) perform their original music Friday, November 1st, the night before UT’s Kentucky game.
Tickets for the shows all go on sale Friday, April 5th at the Concerts for Our Own website.