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Corporate performers band together to support Give for Greatness

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Mon, Oct 26th 2015 10:20 am

Program features eight live bands in concert

Inspired by events of its kind in other cities, the first "Battle of the Corporate Bands" in Buffalo will feature corporate sponsors and their competing bands of the most unlikely musicians - such as bankers, PR executives, accountants, lawyers, software engineers and others. The four-hour event will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Buffalo Ironworks, 49 Illinois St. Event proceeds benefit Give for Greatness, a program of Arts Services Initiative of Western New York. 

The "Battle" is a ticketed concert offering general admission tickets at $22 advance and $25 day-of-show. Tickets are available at the Buffalo Iron Works box office and online at www.ticketfly.com. In addition to purchasing a ticket, patrons can bid on auction items donated and assembled by the corporate bands. 

Bands are made up of employees who play music on the side. Each band will try to steal the spotlight in front of cheering friends, co-workers and live music fans. A panel of celebrity judges as well as audience voting will determine competition winners.

This year's Give for Greatness chairperson, Ken Africano, is a partner at the law firm of Harter Secrest & Emery LLP. He will perform with his firm's band.

"The event will serve many purposes," he explained. "It will raise money for the arts, which is great. It will let people be part of something very fun and rewarding; and it's also a great team-building exercise."

The eight bands represent a wide variety of musical styles, from funk to rock, folk to country and rock to pop.

The list of bands performing at the event and their respective sponsors includes:

  • So Sue Me, Harter Secrest and Emery
  • 15 Fingers and the Other 5, 15 Fingers
  • Pavlov's Cat, University at Buffalo
  • BROAK, Ingram Micro
  • Methane, National Fuel Gas
  • Authorized Party, M&T Bank
  • Curb Appeal, Curbell Inc.
  • Mandy Hintz & the Four No-Name Bankers, First Niagara Bank

Give for Greatness events raise needed funds to assist in the operational support of the region's arts and cultural organizations.

"In 2014, we provided 15 small and emerging cultural organizations each with $1,000 grants, but the need was far greater," ASI Executive Director Tod A. Kniazuk said. "With donor-supported events such as this, we can enjoy a fun evening of music while making a difference for our cultural community and helping even more deserving groups in 2015."

The "Battle" has been made possible through the generosity of the Rupp Family Foundation, Entercom Radio, Artvoice, 15 Fingers, and each corporation that has sponsored a band.

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