Sure, it’s Mothers Day. But it really doesn’t matter what holiday it is when we’re talking about a lineup like this: Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, Stephen Malkmus, Storm Large,The Minus 5 featuring Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, , The Dimes, and more!
On Sunday, May 10th, at Mississippi Studios in Portland, all of these artists (and more) will all join together on one stage for LEP Rocks! – a concert benefiting Portland’s LEP School (Leadership & Entrepreneurship Public Charter School)
Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will actually be performing solo for the first time ever on the West Coast, the beginnings of what will be the promo efforts behind his upcoming solo debut release. Here is one of his brand new, yet to be released songs titled, “15 Oceans with Harp”:
Alec Ounsworth – 15 Oceans with Harp
Caught in the middle of a slumping economy, city bureaucracy, and what appears to be a nasty game of politics seeded deep within Portland Public Schools, Portland’s Leadership and Entrepreneurial Public Charter High School (www.lephigh.org) has been targeted for closure at the end of the school year. Working hard and fighting back with every available resource, communities across Portland are taking a stand to raise the necessary funds to keep the school operating for at least another year. In addition to the benefit concert, Rock ‘N Roll memorabilia, including autographed items from Elvis Costello, G Love, and an acoustic guitar signed by The Decemberists will be raffled off to help raise money.
The Portland Public School Board voted on March 30th to close the LEP School at the end of the current school year, deeming it an economic failure. While Portland Public Schools (PPS) claim the charter school has a $143,000 deficit, LEP School administrators argue that those numbers are outdated and claim the actual deficit is approximately $60,000 – which they plan to raise before the school year ends.
Portland Public Schools’ board of education voted 6-1 to deny LEP High’s future at their March 30th session – a meeting packed with a diverse cross section of Portland’s community, including students, teachers and parents. Most of those in attendance voiced that they’d been hoping for a different outcome for the school.
Steve Berlin of the legendary rock band, Los Lobos – also the father of a LEP student – explained, “I am honored to be part of a benefit for this wonderful, inspiring school. LEP High has made a huge difference in our lives and my daughters’ approach to learning. I am hopeful that the school will continue to provide similar opportunities for all Portland students and parents.“
LEP High is a small (250 students) enrollment school offering a rigorous curriculum, integrated academic support, and hands-on learning geared toward helping every student achieve excellence, regardless of economics, background or other challenges. More than 60 percent of the students attending LEP School qualify as coming from low income families.
Faced with an imminent crisis, the community continues to rally around the LEP School and many groups appear determined to raise the necessary funding to change the school district’s mind. May 10th’s LEP Rocks! event is expected to be a community celebration and yet another reminder of the impactful role the school plays in the City of Portland.
Tickets are available at www.mississippistudios.com for $25 in advance; $30 day of show and there are a limited number of VIP seats for $75 which include private seating, an event poster, wine and hors d’oeuvres.
MORE INFO: For more information, media inquiries, interviews, hi-res images and more, please contact Ryan Wines of Pet Marmoset PR at 541-981-0003 or ryan@petmarmoset.net.
