The651.com

Saturday night, the Wild Tymes sets the stage for “The Future of Music,” a benefit concert for the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. Inspired by the movie of the same name, the film’s composer Michael Kamen started the foundation to give under-funded music programs for kids a much-needed boost, via a musical instrument donation program. A number of St. Paul schools benefit from the program, so it’s only fitting that the capital city would host such a benefit. We chatted with musician Sabastian Love about his involvement with his own Bad Medicine Productions and sponsor Thrifty Hipster, and Paul Solem of the Jelly Project and Labyrinth Productions about MHOF and Saturday’s benefit.

How did you get involved with the benefit? 
Paul: I’m an area donation receiver for MHOF. Through money and fundraisers, I make sure it gets the funds/instruments into the hands of the schools/programs that need it the most. Throughout the years, many kids have been able to strive to their dreams with the help of MHOF.
Sabastian: They’re about supporting musical development of our youth and the community. I was asked to play the show by Paul Solem (of the Jelly Project) who put the show on with Labyrinth Productions. Once I was involved, I decide to sponsor the event with my project, Bad Medicine Productions. I also initiated the Thrifty Hipster sponsorship – Thrifty put a lot into it, we here are all huge supporters of the arts.

Is the music-for-youth cause one you’re particularly drawn to?
Sabastian:Supporting the cultivation of music in youth is the best cause I can think of, and I intend to have a future event devoted to the same thing, on a larger scale next summer.

The event is free to attend. How can people give back?
Paul: I expect to raise awareness. And hopefully some money. And with the good people at Music-Go-Round (which is donating used instruments), we will not show up empty-handed. Congress continually takes money away from schools, and we all know that music and art are the first to go, but we hope that this will let parents and hopfully the “right” people see that there is talent, and it helps out kids who really need it.  There are numerous ways to help – you can help out any time at www.mhopus.org, or you can simply bring your unwanted, dust-collecting, throw-away music gear down to the show and I will fix/clean it up and get it into the hands of kids who could use the support. And if you can’t bring it by the day of the event, you can contact me at thejellyproject@hotmail.com using the heading “USED GEAR” and I will personally come and pick it up.

Headliners Sabastian Love, Ben Aaron, Tyler Coenen and the Jelly Project will be joined by Eric Mitchell, Greg Miske, Grace O’Brien, Conner Sternberg, Xavi Thomas, Elizabeth Kupchella, Brennan Wedl, Angelica Thomas. The 18-plus, free event begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The Wild Tymes is located at 33 West 7th Place, St. Paul. Visit mhopus.org for more information on the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.