You've been waiting for it, it's tonight

It's music for a cause. Tonight at 7 p.m. at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. Yes, the Country Roads concert is back again with a bang, for the 16th time. Taking the stage tonight at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, will be a varied line-up: exciting foreign bands and dynamic young singers- The Mavericks, Astrid Brook, Amelie Chevalier and local favourites Anno Domino, and country veterans Cosmic Rays and the Country Revival Group.

This time they're singing for books, books which will reach the children of Vellavelli, a village in the East once occupied by the LTTE. The children have been through war, strife and displacement and are now rebuilding their lives, eager to attend school and look forward to a brighter future. Asked what they need, they did not have to think twice; the first answer that came to mind was a library of their very own.

This is where the Country Music Foundation (CMF) in association with Save the Children UK and Periyaporativapattu Pradesha Development Rehabilitation Organization will help, continuing their efforts to make a difference in the lives of thousands of needy children islandwide. The journey that Country Roads has made so far has not only inspired county music fans of Colombo, but the organizers themselves, in seeing the impact the concert has made. "It's a really nice feeling knowing that through something we all appreciate, we're also reaching out to those lessprivileged," says Feizal Samath, President of the Country Music Foundation.

It is a cause that all musicians taking part in the concert believe in. Adds UK-based singer Astrid Brook, "I am delighted to help support the efforts of the CMF and to perform at Country Roads for the second year running.

I admire the dedication and commitment of the CMF who have been organising this concert successfully for 16 years now. The concert has many generous sponsors which means that any money raised from ticket sales goes directly to the children's projects. This is a huge achievement as often with money raised by charities, some of it is spent on the charity's expenses such as wages, office equipment etc and then what little is left goes towards the actual cause itself. I wholly support the efforts of the CMF because it proves to be a truly grassroots organisation that helps ensure the money goes to where it is needed the most - to benefit the children.

“Most of all, I am looking forward to entertaining the special guests at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, who will be helping needy children by just buying a concert ticket. I look forward to seeing their smiling faces once again this year."

As always, the show has something new for its audience. "From the performance, to the instruments played, we always try to feature something the audience may not have seen before," said Mr. Samath. "In addition to the six-string Ukelele, there will also be banjos and a mystery instrument played at the concert.”Tickets for Country Roads XVI, priced at Rs. 1000, 750 and 500, are available at Cargills Food City outlets.