Benefit concert to follow research conference
William A. Darnell / Senior Staff Writer
The atrium of the Business Leadership Building will play host to the first annual DREAM 2013 Benefit Concert this Saturday, immediately following the 5th Adventures in Autism Intervention and Research Conference.
The concert, DFW Rocks to End Autism through Music, will begin at 4:30 Saturday afternoon and bands will play until 1 a.m. All proceeds from the $15 event will go toward supporting the mission of UNT’s Kristin Farmer Autism Center, said Dr. Kevin Callahan, executive director.
Callahan said the mission of the organization is intensive treatment, conducting research and training parents and employees.
“We’re hoping to gain experience through communication so that parents and families read and hear and know the types of services we can provide,” Callahan said.
Larry g(EE), a Dallas-based funk musician who made his first national appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in December, will headline the show.
“I have a relative in the Philippines who is autistic,” g(EE) said. “Anything like this, are things that are close to me. It’s natural to get behind it.”
Seven other bands will play during the more than eight hours of action, including Special Mister Ed, the band of Callahan and Kevin Stewart, lead interventionist at the autism center.
“We have an inclination toward music here at the center, and there are some connections between autism and music,” Stewart said. “Music therapy is something that can be an effective intervention technique. We really wanted an event that can bring community members together—parents, college students, all for this one cause.”
Stewart said the center does not have a specific fundraising goal in mind, but it wants the event to be successful in its first incarnation and for everyone to have a good time while raising awareness for the good things the center is doing.
The event was originally intended to be a battle of the bands, but after a colleague’s band was forced to miss it, the center began contacting local DFW bands to see if they were interested in playing for free or for a small fee, said Callahan.
The rest of the set list is: The O’s, Blue Bear, Goodnight Ned, Fate Lions, Beer & Wine and Jess & The Echoes.
More information can be found at www.facebook.com/dream2013benefit
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