Done – 21st March 2023

In the time it took to read this line
A million things could’ve been done
I’m feeling fine, searching for the perfect rhyme
Though perhaps this isn’t the one
Did you do the things you always wanted to?
Or just work away the days
I guess it’s true we never think things through
And time is the crime that never pays


Today I’m feeling:
Good but a little tired due to sleeping late. Walked to Utopia as a counter to having an afternoon nap, coming to try their new Affagato which has got my heart racing. Contemplating what to do if I go home or to walk on to Daytripper but then what to do there…
Today I’m grateful for:
My crappy old earphones that allowed me to listen to a podcast as I walked around in the heat. Am I the old man that prefers to listen to people talking about music rather than listening to music?
The best thing about today was:
In the afternoon, after walking back home and having a shower I felt inspired to read and got hungry so ate my salad before calling Amy at cat feeding time. Still with some energy, I did a bit of watering as dusk settled in. As I went to close the gate I was still not satisfied and decided to pull up the vines that grow behind our driveway’s tall grass. Pulling them out is a great feeling and I didn’t really notice the humidity, the grass cuts on my fingers and my itchy skin until Tangmo came along and distracted me and we played with his rope which he happily brought back each time I threw it. In total darkness now I got back inside and had my third shower for the day.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
A message came through for teachers to spend the next week or so crammed in the big hall doing lesson plans. I reckon we’ll be able to drift out pretty quickly but still, it’s not a thrilling prospect, especially as I’m already doing lots of work around my lessons. Oh well, I have a plan to do the flashcard glueing whilst I’m there rather than do it at home. That’s a good use of the time for me at least. I’ll get my head around everything else and it will be ok.
Something I learned today?
A study produced by Ipsos in Paris found that the Chinese are overwhelmingly the happiest people of the 32 countries questioned. Of course, it’s just one study and people are quick to bring up other studies as counterarguments but there seem to be more and more of these kinds of positive happiness studies of China appearing.
What is the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited?
I’ve seen some beautiful places in Australia, China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and pretty much most places I’ve been. But sometimes there are simple places that stand out not just because of their beauty, which may be seen at any time of year or over the years and decades; places that brought a euphoria with them that might never be repeated, the smells and sounds nostalgic indicators, the people those moments may have been shared with. Riding a bike through Branksome Chine, a hidden pond in the English countryside discovered one summer evening, the rocks off the path in the bush down to Middle Harbour discovered during a lunch break with TLJ, in an artists warehouse anticipating bands to perform.

I took this picture because I’d noticed these flowers on the weekend as I rode home. As I was walking today I had time to stop and grab this shot.

What’s Cool and Unusual – 24th June 2014

Call out!

The Red Rattler’s Management Committee is on the hunt for some new Directors. This is your chance to get directly involved in the management of this community-run space – hands-on and fully intimate.

We are looking for individuals with skills or knowledge in at least one of the following areas:
Finance
Law
Not-for-profit organisations
Governance and compliance
Event management
Risk assessment processes
Program and Project Development
Social Media
Contemporary arts and culture
A commitment to planning for the long-term viability of this non-profit venue
A commitment to implementation of The Red Rattler eco-sustainability plan
A passion for arts and politics
A commitment to build a space where racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexism are not welcome.
Find full details on submitting your Expression of Interest online or contact Director Kat Roma Greer on kat@redrattler.org.

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Another call out!

Want to Smash Jura Books?
With a Hammer

Ever wanted to take a sledgehammer to Jura Books? Well, now’s your chance. We’re doing renovations to our library to make it a bigger, better space for talks and gigs. We need your help to destroy a wall (and rebuild the room). We also need a certified electrician to do about a day’s work on the wiring. We can afford to pay the sparky, although mates rates would be appreciated! Please get in touch if you are a friendly sparky or know of one.
• Working bee, 12-5pm, Sat 5 July
• Working bee, 12-5pm, Sat 12 July

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Sat 28

Red Rattler, 6 Faversham St, Marrickville
8pm

LAKES/FOUR DOOR/LUCY CLICHE/ORION

The follow up single to last year’s well-received ‘Blood of the Grove’ LP from Melbourne based musician Sean Bailey under the moniker of LAKES. Post punk meets dark folk delivered with military-like precision, for fans of DEATH IN JUNE and THE MOB. Mixing bleak pop with an underlying aggression, delivering stark melodies with understated power.

17th Aug 2021 – As far as I can tell, after 7 or so years of weekly posts, this was the last newsletter sent out. As I had lost my job earlier in this year, I wasn’t going out too much so not so much in the loop of things. Also, Facebook had really taken over as the communication tool of choice, leaving this list feeling a little redundant. Jeremy Chunn valiantly helped out for the last 12 months or so but even his enthusiasm couldn’t motivate me to keep going. This was a special time in Sydney with a lot of motivated people trying to create things outside regular bar venues. Places like The Pitz, Maggotville, Dirty Shirlows and many many more became legendary for a while there.

What’s Cool and Unusual – 18th June 2014

Wed 18

Lamps, level 4, 342 Elizabeth St, Sydney
$5/$10 ALL AGES

Laura Altman
Evan Dorrian with Andrew Fedorovitch
Luiz Gabriel Gubeissi with Mel Herbert, Jim Denley and Bonnie Stewart

  • special guests

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Fri 20

Birdrib, Tempe
9pm

ACHE, SOLIS , VEX MACHINA , HACKED TO CHUNKS , FRAME 313

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Fri 20

Black Wire, 219 Parramatta Rd, Annandale
7pm ALL AGES

LAST CHAOS (Bris) / THORAX / CANINE / MANDATE

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Sun 22

107 Projects, 107 Redfern St, Redfern
6pm $10/8 ALL AGES

Pretty Gritty #7
assault and bassery

Cat Hope
Defektro
Knife Crimes

What’s Cool and Unusual – 11th June 2014

Fri 13

107 Projects, 107 Redfern St, Redfern
$10 ALL AGES

Matthew P. Hopkins – LP launch

with special guests:

Monica Brooks
Moonmilk
Exotic Dog

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Fri 13

Black Wire, 219 Parramatta Rd, Annandale
$10 ALL AGES 7pm

HOODLUM SHOUTS (Cbr)
MERE WOMEN
FREAK WAVE (Melb)
COLLAPSO

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Sat 14

Edgeware Rd, Marrickville
9am

DEQY & Daily Jam Present: Benefit for RISE (Pop-Up Cafe/Motherlands and Hometowns Zine Launch)

Proceeds raised from the cafe and zine will be sent to RISE (http://riserefugee.org/) and Cross Border Protection.


THE MENU (All vegan, all gluten-free):

Breakfast:
Scrambled Tofu
Sauteed Balsamic Mushroom & Zucchini
Home Made Beans
Home Made Hashbrowns
Gluten Free Bread

Lunch:
Onion Bhaji
Cashew Butter & Pesto Pasta
Oven-Baked & Seasoned Vegetables
Garden Salad with Balsamic Dressing

$10 for a plate of food
$15 for a plate of food, a zine & a tea/coffee

THE ZINE:

Motherlands and Hometowns explores the way in which we move through the world, build metaphysical homes in physical spaces and disentangle our complex identities. Contributors: LM, Blossom Mckenzie-King, Ellie Rose, Cher T, Stono River Caves, Farnoush Parsiavashi, Alana West, Craig Lyons.

$4

THE ENTERTAINMENT:

5pm-onwards
Line-Up TBA

DEQY is an initiative that advocates for people of all genders to enjoy and play live music, without being marginalised.

Daily Jam Recycled Furniture
Furniture designed and constructed by Michael Dukes and Blossom Mckenzie-King using recycled timbers, fabrics and whatever we find useful.

This event will be held upon the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of this land and that sovereignty was never ceded.

What’s Cool and Unusual – 4th June 2014

Call out!

Monster Mouse Studios will be hosting two days of interactive workshops. The workshops are a combination of all the activities undertaken at Monster Mouse from the last year. It will be a one-stop shop to learn every artistic skill under the sun.

Would you like to run a workshop?! Please contact us with your workshop idea. Don’t let a lack of skill stop you from running a workshop!

https://www.facebook.com/events/270076939841861/

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Thu 5

Red Rattler. 6 Faversham St, Marrickville
Doors 7pm $5

Chaos Syndicate’s Arcade

Freak out with the geeks and geek out with the freaks.

Back by popular demand!

Board Games and Video Games.

Small World, Pandemic, Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride (Europe), Risk 2210 A.D., Spartacus, Munchkin, Scrabble, Twister, Chess & more.

Feel free to bring your own games too. Many people playtest the games they’ve developed themselves. Consoles hooked up to projectors and TVs. Also Halo 4 Lan.

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Sun 8

Black Wire, 219 Parramatta Rd, Annandale
3pm ALL AGES

TAPE/OFF (Bris/Album Launch) / NARROW LANDS / CULL

What’s Cool and Unusual – 28th May 2014

Call out!

Future event heads up!

NCWS Presents
LET’S GET STUPID – Outdoor Underground Party

Event Info: http://lgs.dancepartyhire.com.au/
Warm Up Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1434316483468052
Tickets: $35 + b.f Presolds now on Sale (Please email ****@dancepartyhire.com.au for payment info)

  • EVERYONE MUST TAKE THEIR RUBBISH HOME
  • Tickets only sold to all who love the music & the scene
  • This is a presold only event, all ticket sales end on the 5/08/2014 or once sold out

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Call out!

Monster Mouse band room now taking bookings 2 weeks in advance! Support our user-friendly and affordable DIY rehearsal space. Only $30 for 3 hours plus $5 gear hire (drumkit/cabs/pa) Marrickville area, weeknight slots 4-7pm and 7-10pm. Weekends 1-4pm and 4-7pm. Write an email to: ****@gmail.com or text Hannah for bookings. Tell your friends 🙂

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Wed 28

PACT 107 Railway Parade, Erskineville
7pm $15 ALL AGES

Room – Earthcrosser Company
Room is a new theatre work that explores the interaction between a performer’s physicality and unconventional light and sound sources.

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Fri 30

Black Wire, 219 Parramatta Rd, Annandale
6pm $10 ALL AGES

Ether Rag
Alf Stewart
Bombs over Brunswick (Melbourne),
Scrotal Vice
Nobody’s Driving

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Sat 31

Black Wire, 219 Parramatta Rd, Annandale

Ixodes, Kremlings [Geelong], Chinese Burns Unit, Moonsign and Grey Places

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Sat 31

Monster Mouse Rehearsal Studio, Maud Lane, Marrickville
7pm $10 ALL AGES

Dark Horse
Hostile Objects
The FUCK OUTS
Bombs Over Brunswick (Melbourne)
Vile Ways

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Sun 1

Young Henrys, 76 Wilford St, Newtown

Conspiritus Muppetus | Print Exhibition and Book Launch

Glenno Smith has drawn and written all about esoteric cults, conspiracies and weird history, shoved it all in the (72) pages of a book and is offering it up, like it’s some sort of… thing!

Individual prints, as well as signed copies, will be made available on the day, as well as frosty, cold beer… at the source of all beery goodness – Young Henry’s Institute of Awesome.

What’s Cool and Unusual – 21st May 2014

Wed 21

Lamps, Hibernian House, 342 Elizabeth Street
8pm ALL AGES

Peter Farrar – solo
Shota Matsumura
tba

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Thu 22

Black Wire, 219 Parramatta Rd, Annandale
7pm ALL AGES

Thee Nodes (Canada) / Gentlemen (Melb) / Nobody’s Driving / Mandate

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Fri 23

Firstdraft, 13-17 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo
7pm

Video Ezy

Video Ezy is a collaboration between two Sydney based musicians and artists, Nina Buchanan and Del Lumanta. Using synths, keyboards and drum machine, the pair move between dystopian pop songs and loose, repetitive jams.

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Fri 23

Red Rattler, 6 Faversham St, Marrickville
Entry is by Gold Coin Donation! Doors 7pm

Angharad Yeo – Spiderstring Album Launch.

Playing an exclusive set with full band, there will also be copies of the album for sale at the event.

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Sat 24

PACT Centre for Emerging Arts 107 Railway Parade, Erskineville
12-2pm, $15 / $10 ALL AGES

This is a special event co presented by New Music Network and the NOW now. The Splinter Orchestra will be presenting an afternoon concert of new works. – We’ve been building up to this the last 5 months!

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Sun 25

107 Projects, 107 Redfern St, Redfern
2pm $10 ALL AGES

Reykjavictim, Mannheim Rocket, The Seaport and the Airport, Wade M Gilmour

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Sun 25

Alaska Projects Level 2, Kings Cross Car Park, 9A Elizabeth Bay Road
5pm FREE ALL AGES

MUSICAL ALASKA no. 17
involuntary muscle
feat. Jane Sheldon | Michaela Davies

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Sun 25

Level 3, Central 28 Broadway, Chippendale
11am-4pm

Other Worlds Zine Fair – an alternative to the MCA’s zine fair.

The MCA is sponsored by Transfield, a corporation that operates contracts in the detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru. Transfield derives brand value through its association with the arts. By participating in events that are sponsored by Transfield we add value to their brand. This alternative fair will give zinesters an opportunity to show their protest while still enabling them to sell and swap their zines. An alternative to the MCA zine fair may seem like a small protest, but it’s a specific protest as zine makers, in solidarity with asylum seekers who protest against and resist mandatory detention from within the camps

What’s Cool and Unusual – 14th May 2014

Call out…

Call Out for Red Rattler:
Volunteer Live Music Coordinator!
We’re looking to fill the volunteer Live Music Coordinator position(s). Ideal for emerging music event managers or promoters that are able to be part of a programming group to develop festivals/events showcasing and promoting the Red Rattlers commitment to Sydney’s alternative arts and music culture.

You would play a massive part in continuing the Rattler’s success as a creative live music playground in Sydney’s inner-west.

What you need:
• Lots of contacts with skills to expand on The Rat’s music bookings
• Ability to develop your own events or bring tours to Sydney
• Strong desire to build relationships with local/interstate promoters & work with local community radio stations
• Excellent event management & tech knowledge
• Ability to help promoters & bands with music briefs; programs & setlists

You’ll bring a great attitude, diverse music knowledge and a desire to maintain the Rattler’s strong anti-racist, queer friendly, activist and feminist arts culture.

Email your expression of interest (max 1 page by Friday 24th May)
***@gmail.com

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STIRR UP GALLERY Addison Road Community Centre
142 Addison Rd, Marrickville NSW 2294 Australia

“DESERT / FOREST” Ganbold Lundaa aka Gawaa and Hirofumi Uchino exhibtion
20 May -1 June 2014

opening party TUE 20 May at 6 pm
live: Defektro, Toydeath, Zedfemale with Shane Fahey, Codakrohm

closing party SUN 1 June at 2 pm
live: Bukhchuluun Ganburged, Lc Beats, Bright Murane, Forenzics, Axis

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Sat 17

Red Rattler, 6 Faversham St, Marrickville
Doors 7.30pm, $22+bf

Broken Hive Records presents

Foundation (USA)
Twitching Tongues (USA)
I Exist (ACT)
Warbrain (VIC)
Vigilante
Legions

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Sun 18

Red Rattler, 6 Faversham St, Marrickville
1pm

Celluloid Sessions is a collaborative indoor arts festival with local Djs, Bands, Street Artists, Projection Art, Short Film Screenings, Food & Art Stalls & the biggest clothing swap in Sydney.

We’re screening cult classic and awesome Aussie masterpiece Wake In Fright (1971).

In the Art Department we’ll be joined by talented Sydney based artists, The Dirt, Mulga The Artist as well as Lowri Best & Rudá Tillett. Each artist will be painting live artworks throughout the day.

Super Galaxies, The Spoon Collectors, Love Swagga, Spike the Punch, Mannheim Rocket, Zhe Nhir, Shart City, & many more talented musicians will be dishing out the funky tunes & freshest beats.

There will be Art stalls, Food stands and a fully licensed bar to keep you well watered!

Celluloid Sessions will be held at The Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville on the 18th of May, right around the corner from Sydenham station!

The Clothing Swap will kick things off at 1pm with the event finishing around 11pm.

Get in early and grab tickets online for only $10-

http://events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/CelluloidSessions

or pick one up at the door for $15

The first 100 guests to buy their ticket online will be entered into a draw to win an original piece painted by one of our talented artists. So don’t miss out!

What’s Cool and Unusual – 7th May 2014

Call out

Monster Mouse is looking for a new house mate. But no ordinary house mate.

Monster Mouse is a living and business situation that requires someone that can balance home, warehouse work, and external work.

Living here is amazing and comes with so many amazing perks such as a swimming pool size living room (sometimes containing a 12 person swimming pool), band rehearsal space, pot belly fireplace, communal art spaces, large events and lots of quiet time too. The rent is very cheap for the area and space you get to live in.

However living here means you’ll also be running an artist in residence program and maintaining a very large space. It requires about 4hrs a week dedicated work as well as ongoing work that is hard to estimate. You’ll be given one of eight roles which rotate every 3 months. Building Coordinator, Events coordinator, Waste management, Bandroom manager, Finances, Artist Liaison, Public Relations and Graphic Design.

If you’re interested in living here please contact us and we’ll invite into the space for a viewing and further run down of our warehome.

Tell a friend

Contact a host or msg
https://www.facebook.com/monstermousestudios
***@gmail.com

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Fri 9

birdrib, marrickville

ixodes, world at glance [melb], the farting arses, yes i’m leaving, outposts [melb] and ivan and the backpackers

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Tue 13

Giant Dwarf, 199 Cleveland Street, Redfern
8pm $20

It’s time again to don the cassock and go mental on the wafers!

Joining us for a night of humiliation and absolution will be:

MICHAEL HING * JO THORNELY * NICK COYLE * SPOD

If you’ve been living with a secret shame in your life, this is the event for you. Confession Booth invites writers, musicians, actors, comedians and creatives to the stage and asks them to confess their deepest, darkest, most embarrassing, disgusting, hilarious or surprisingly moving moments that they’d previously kept hidden from the world.

And, of course, we invite you to share in a catharsis. Bring your own story for our wildly popular audience confession segment, hosted by Matt Roden, and you could win yourself an awesome prize (as though freedom from eternal punishment weren’t enough).

Hosted as always by A.H. Cayley.

All for just $20! (plus booking fee). Make sure you select May 13th in the date dropdown: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/confession-booth-tickets-11312860069

What’s Cool and Unusual – 30th April 2014

Call out

Sashimi Studios, Marrickville
6:30-7:30pm

The Loose Jivers Jazz Social is a weekly one hour house party of the dancing kind. Come chuck on some music videos, stretch your body body, throw some fresh shapes and learn some new moves.

CALLING ALL

babes of bop
honeys of hip hop
bosses of bump and the refined kind who grind
wizards of watussi
punks who pogo
gods of go go
hams of the shim sham
peach cheeks of pop
diablos of disco
and chumps of krump

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COME GET LOOSE

Every Wednesday from 2 April 2014

Sashimi Studios DF
It’s free to jive coz fuck the system
Gender inclusive, we don’t give a shit what kind of organ you’re packing so long as you wanna shake the tail feather on the other side of it.
Kids accompanied by their grown ups are welcome

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smash smash
bang bang
don’t stop
shelangalangalang

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Thu 1

Loft UTS, 15 Broadway, Ultimo
8pm $8 ALL AGES(?)

Jep and Dep, Lola & The Captain, Caitlin Harnett

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Sat 3

Monster Mouse Rehearsal Studio, Maud Ln, Marrickville

Save BBy Riss BBy BBQ (more info on Baby Riss Below)

BLACK VANILLA
JAYSWAYS
T. MORIMOTO (THOMAS WILLIAM)
CHUNYIN (RAINBOW CHAN)
MAKING
GOLDEN BLONDE
MERE WOMEN
POWER MOVES (DJ SET)
SIMO SOO (DJ SET)

All of this will be taking place at the defiant Monster Mouse Rehearsal Studio with yummy treats, cupcakes, BBQ available! Come get fed for a good cause!!

Black Vanilla the ectoplasmic resin of three distinct taste makers from the Sydney Club Scene Marcus Whale (Collarbones, Scissorlock), Lavurn Lee (Guerre, Cassius Select) and DJ Plead (#artblogmogul). This is a sexual grab for the guts, dense rhythms and painfully intimate commands. they got you jacked up.

Golden Blonde euphorically tense boyz of the #2k14 Sydney arts scene. They work tones to constrict yr senses and conduct rhythms that deny A to B gratification for a longer deeper high. Hugh Deacon would be mainly responsible for that last bit, and if his work as POWERMOVES is any kind of a tell I imagine Austin Buckett has a hand in that too. Adam Guzowski sings dark and free alongside Joshua Beaker who lays the ground for all of these luxuries with some well placed bass.

Chunyin is a step away from Rainbow Chan’s ecstatic pop efforts. It is the darker side of a complicated beast, thundering and low. Her unique feel for challenging composition is all there but with an aim for rhythm based oscillation and synth torture diagrams. it will turn yr head inside out. #nanbowchan

All of these acts are coming together in support of the campaign to save Baby Riss. Over the 2013 Christmas holidays 19 year old Isabelle “Baby” Rissole was diagnosed with a rare life threatening blood disease called aHUS. Since the illness is so rare there has not been a precedent for the government to subsidize the life saving medication needed to treat this illness. Currently it is costing Baby 20,000 dollars a fortnight for her treatment. That’s 600,000 dollars a year. In July a petition urging the Federal Government goes through to cover the medication Eculizumab, which would not just change Baby’s life but also the lives of many other australians struggling with illnesses that would be treated by this miracle drug. Up until July the diligent network of friends, family and artists (Le1f & Cakes Da Killa to name a few) working to support Baby must raise over 200,000 dollars. All of the proceeds from this event will go towards treatment for young Baby Riss.

If you can’t come please consider giving a donation : http://www.gofundme.com/savebabyriss