What better

way to benefit music education in Coweta County schools than to have a

benefit concert at the Coweta County Fairgrounds? There will be 36 bands

performing on three stages Saturday from 9 a.m. to midnight.

The benefit

concert is the idea of Allison Knott, a parent of a child in a middle

school band. She witnessed the need of the middle school bands firsthand

when her daughter had to play a flute in poor condition or shell out a

lot of money for a brand-new one.

"I met

with the superintendent and the middle school band and chorus teachers

and they said there was a need for more funding," said Knott. The

ideas started flying and since Knott used to book entertainment for a

local club and had met a lot of area bands at concerts in the Atlanta

area, the idea for a benefit concert was born.

"The bands

performing are really excited to raise money for music with music,"

Knott said. "I have a waiting list of bands that would like to perform

at the next concert like this." Knott plans on the concert being

an annual event. She is organizing a concert of the middle school bands

and choruses in march and then another concert like this for the summer.

Bands performing

will be 6Against7, Arnall Middle School Chorus, Asphalt Blaster, Attica,

Big Jack Pneumatic, CALORIC, Chris Waller, Copper, Cornbread, Defriender,

Driven, Ed Zachary Band, Flo Factor, Groovestain, ILL MIC, JaD, Jo'nes,

John Paul Williams, Kate and the Retreads, Kevin Lawson, Lazy Eye, left

on green, LMNOP, Magno, Next Page, Nothing Said, Pacifico, Persona, Sean

Waterman, Second Shift, Shana Alverson Band, Slowearth, Soldiers of Jah

Army, Tilden's Faith, Transmission and Uncrowned.

The show is

an all-ages show and is an alcohol- and drug-free event. Visitors will

be allowed to bring in one factory-sealed bottle of water, and bags and

backpacks will be subject to search. There will be food vendors at the

show, including Chick-fil-A, Buffalo's and Texas Roadhouse.

Tickets to

the show are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Students ages 13-18 will

be admitted for $10 ad children under the age of 12 will be admitted for

free. To purchase advance tickets, visit www.music101.org. The Web site

also has a full schedule for all three stages and information on several

of the bands. For more information, phone 770-683-1903.

To get to the

Coweta County Fairgrounds, take Exit 41 off of I-85 South. Go north on

Georgia Highway 29/27 to Pine Road. Take the first left after the interstate

on to Pine Road. The fairgrounds are on the left and there will be signs.

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