Bluebird concert to aid food bank

Hoosier Hills Food Bank will hold a benefit concert featuring the African music of Nomo and Sheasby Matiure on Saturday in order to raise funds for a new facility.\n“It’s the spirit of Robin Hood,” said Jim Manion, WFHB programming director. “The world of richer people has the resources you need to orchestrate (helping the hungry).” \nManion has volunteered regularly at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, a Bloomington food pantry that has received food from Hoosier Hills, for more than six years. When he became aware of Hoosier Hills Food Bank’s need for a larger storage warehouse, he decided to direct fundraising efforts toward the cause.\nThe idea for a musical charity event began when Manion and WIUX station manager Craig Shank wanted to unite the two Bloomington radio stations, WFHB and WIUX, for the community’s advantage, Manion said.\nManion said they were inspired to bring Nomo because the band had already established itself in Bloomington, playing at Lotus Festival in 2006 and Culture Shock in 2007.\nThe event will feature Nomo, whose sound finds its roots in Afrobeat and the traditional Zimbabwean music of Matiure. Matiure, originally from Zimbabwe and a current Ph.D. candidate, will also perform.\n“It will be fun to get new people to come and turned on to what (Hoosier Hills Food Bank) is doing,” said Elliot Bergman, Nomo’s band leader.\nNomo has enjoyed participating in previous fundraisers such as tsunami relief and leukemia, lymphoma and cancer research efforts, he said. \n“When there’s a chance to get involved and raise money for a local effort, it’s inevitably a better show,” Bergman said.\nMatiure, along with two of his groups, Mutinhimira Marimba Ensemble and The Mbira Queens, will perform at the concert as well.\n“It’s going to be a great combination of music styles,” Matiure said. “And it’s my last performance in Bloomington.”\nAfter he finishes a tour of the Pacific Northwest this summer, Matiure said he will leave Bloomington. \nWFHB, WIUX, Spirit of ’68 Promotions and Century 21 Realty Group will present the general admission show at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Bluebird. Tickets cost $15, and all proceeds will go to Hoosier Hills Food Bank.\n“If people are not exposed to the hunger problem, they do not know how bad it is,” Manion said. “That’s incentive enough to give money and we’re offering a one-of-a-kind show.”