The Virginia, Edward, Trinity, Tupper, Elmwood (VETTE) Block Club, invites the community and garden enthusiasts to join members of the block club for an afternoon of great music, comedy and poetry at a fundraiser to help with the beautification efforts of the neighborhood by sustaining the neighborhood’s Grassroots Community Garden on Sunday, April 7 from 3 to 6 pm at Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street. A portion of the proceeds from the event will also be donated to Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
The event will be headlined by the eclectic musical talents of one of Buffalo’s most unique bands, The Stamplickers, which will rock the crowd with an array of musical genres and upbeat performance style. The evening will also feature the talents of professional comedian Tim Joyce, pianist and singer Annie Philippone, award-winning poet Celia White and the acoustic melodies of Joe Rozler.
Proceeds from the VETTE fundraiser will be used to maintain and build upon the Trinity/Tupper Grassroots Community Garden and to help fund Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo’s mission. The Trinity/Tupper community garden was established during the spring of 2011 and has grown to be one of the most unique gardens in the city. The Trinity-Tupper Garden is fully organic, a designated butterfly pollinator site and a fully communal garden–those who plan, plant, weed, and water it care for and harvest all plants. All extra produce is donated to organizations which feed those in need, such as Allentown’s Friends of Night People.
The Trinity/Tupper community garden would never have become reality without the support of Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo, and as a continued sign of appreciation to the organization a portion of all monies raised will be donated to help the organization continue in their mission of creating community gardens throughout Buffalo, beautifying the city’s urban landscape one vacant parcel at a time.
“In efforts to advance our mission of improving and beautifying the streets that make up the VETTE Block Club, we welcome the general public to attend our fabulous fundraiser to help our neighborhood maintain one of the city’s most unique community gardens and to improve the aesthetics of an essential neighborhood within the preservation district of Buffalo,” said Erik Hartnett, president, VETTE Block Club.
The Stamplickers are a one-of-a-kind, enthusiastic cover band that has been on the local music scene since 2006. The large 10-piece band makes you groove whether you want to or not. Playing tunes from an eclectic catalogue, ranging from The Muppet Show theme, to “Groove is in The Heart” by Dee-Lite, to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, the group seeks to amaze the audience with unique renditions of well-known hits. The Stamplickers consist of a horn section with two trombones, two trumpets, and a saxophone, as well as a rhythm, keys and guitar sections. The band also features two vocalists that belt out vocals like no others in the area. For more information visit the band’s Facebook page at facebook.com/stamp.lickers .
Rozler is a singer and musician with a long and varied career in the Buffalo music scene. He performs locally with The Sid Winkler Band, the Party Squad and as a duo with 10,000 Maniacs founder John Lombardo. Rozler writes and records music for TV and radio commercials, and has toured Europe several times with the heavy metal band Manowar. In 2008 Joe was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.
White is the author of several chapbooks and one collection of poems, entitled Letter. Known as a performing poet and teaching artist, she is also the co-founder of Urban Epiphany, WNY’s poetry marathon. White was the 1995 writer-in-residence for Just Buffalo Literary Center, 1997 University Prize winner in the Academy of American Poets contest, and has been named Best Poet several times by Artvoice and Buffalo Spree Magazine.
Joyce has appeared at colleges and clubs from coast to coast as well as gigs in Canada, Ireland, and Wales. His numerous television credits include appearances on ABC, Comedy Central, WeTV, and regional shows in Indiana, Ohio, Canada, and New York State. He has been a featured guest on several radio programs, most notably Sirius Radio’s Raw Dog Comedy. Joyce was a frequent contributor and performer at Chicago’s famed Second City, where he was privileged to work with such stars as Steve Carrel, Steven Colbert, and Tina Fey. Some of the more notable comedy clubs he has played include: The Laugh Factory, Ice House, Improv, and Comedy Store in LA; The Improv in Chicago; and Stand Up New York in Manhattan.
Philippone is a well-known jazz and blues pianist in the WNY music community, who performs popular cover songs in her enchanting, rasping voice. She has been a mainstay in the WNY music scene for many years and is the main attraction at Nietzsche’s on Sunday’s for many years.
The VETTE Block Club has set a $5 suggested donation at the door for the fundraiser, but larger donations will be gratefully accepted. For More Information please visit Facebook.com/vetteblockclub, or if you have questions please email them to VETTEBlockClub@aol.com.