In commemoration of its 10th anniversary and in partnership with the nonprofit organization A Spring of Hope and five-time Grammy-winning South African bassist Bakithi Kumalo, Village Music Wellington will present the Village Music 10th Anniversary Benefit Music Festival, an all-day celebration and fundraising event on Saturday, Feb. 4, at its location at 10410 W. Forest Hill Blvd.
The goal of the event will be to raise funds for two A Spring of Hope projects: the drilling of a well in the Limpopo province of South Africa, as well as the development of an after-school music center to support displaced children by providing them with lessons and exposing them to the transformative power of music. Since 2006, A Spring of Hope has partnered with more than 45 schools in South Africa to provide clean water, gardens and sanitation projects.
Ranked among the top 50 bass players in the world, Bakithi Kumalo is a five-time Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist. Born and raised in Soweto, South Africa, he has spent a career touring the world and performing alongside artists, including the Grateful Dead, Sting and Stevie Wonder. From Paul Simon’s Graceland to Disney’s The Lion King, Kumalo’s bass playing can be found in the heart and soul of modern-day anthems. He has spent the past several years supporting A Spring of Hope in improving the living conditions in his native South Africa.
Village Music Wellington is an award-winning regional music center with a music school that currently offers the largest music lesson program in Palm Beach County, a full-service retail store with authorized dealerships for premier brands, as well as one of the county’s most popular live music venues presenting regional, national and international musical acts on a weekly basis.
Village Music’s anniversary festival will begin at noon on Saturday, Feb. 4 and will conclude at approximately 10 p.m. The celebration will include live music all day, featuring 10 bands and culminating with Bakithi Kumalo’s Graceland Experience Band, as well as food vendors, product demonstrations, free music lessons, a silent auction and more. On Sunday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m., Village Music will offer the opportunity to interact with Kumalo in a more intimate setting at a Meet & Greet Storytelling Evening in the Village Music Café.
Village Music Wellington is located at 10410 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in front of the Mall at Wellington Green behind Walgreens and across from Barnes & Noble. General admission to the Feb. 4 festival is a $20 charitable donation ($25 at the door) with VIP tables available. Tickets for the Meet & Greet Storytelling Evening on Feb. 5 are available for a $50 charitable donation. Tickets are available online at www.villagemusiccafe.com/tickets.
