Hello everyone. As you might recall from my recent post, or perhaps a recent email from me, my friend Vicente Lebron has been in jail for something incredibly minor. Here’s a recent Boston Phoenix article.
As promised, a benefit concert has been arranged, and it will feature an extraordinary lineup. Here are the details:
Free Vicente Lebron!
Benefit Concert Slated for July 16 at Ryles in Cambridge
Fifteen bands and singers to perform
A spectacular and diverse lineup of musicians have volunteered to play a benefit show for conguero and teacher Vicente Lebron on Wednesday, July 16, at Ryles, Inman Square, Cambridge. Doors will open at 7, music from 8 till closing at 1 am. Entry is $10, although all are strongly encouraged to donate more. All proceeds except pay for the bar staff will go to cover Vicente’s legal and other expenses.
Vicente has been in a Homeland Security prison since June 9, with no date for release set. He may face a lengthy process to get out and to be allowed to remain in the US, his home since 1970.
A limited number of tee-shirts with a striking graphic of Vicente (like the one on the poster) will be on sale for $25. If you plan to come, arrive early as we anticipate a big turnout.
If you can’t make it to the show, here’s what you can do:
Mail a check to:
Vicente Lebron
c/o Accurate Records
343 Medford St. Suite 4ASomerville MA 02145 USA
write the check to “Vicente Lebron, c/o, Luz Lebron.”
Mail a money order or bank check to:
Bienvenido Lebron-Garo
ID#0803980
Suffolk Country House of Corrections
Building 8, Unit 8-4
20 Bradston St.
Boston MA 02118
You can send him postal money orders or bank checks, made out to him (write name exactly as in above address). Sign the money order. He can use the money in prison for food and other things. Remember that except for letters from his lawyer, all envelopes can and will be opened and possibly read.
If you can’t afford to donate…
send Vicente a letter, post card, valentine, whatever, at the above address.
Benefit Schedule:
7 pm: Doors open
8 pm
*Orchestra Morphine
*Gypsy Schaeffer
*Manguito
9 pm
*Gabrielle Agachiko
*Leo Blanco Group
*I-Level
10 pm
*3Play
*Jorge Perez with Juan “Cotito” Medrano
*A large, horn-heavy Jazz-latin-ethiopian ensemble with guest singers:
Ruthie Ristich
Christian McNeill
Willie “Loco” Alexander 11 pm
*Rhumbafrica
*Charlie Kohlhase’s Explorer’s Club
*Club D’Elf
Midnight
*Russ Gershon’s Mood Elevator
I will be playing in the “large, horn-heavy Jazz-latin-ethiopian ensemble with guest singers” and then again at midnight in Russ Gershon’s Mood Elevator.
Vicente is one of the most beautiful people I have ever known. If that were not enough to convince you to come to this benefit concert, then let me end by saying that every single group playing at the benefit is incredible.
See you there,
Rick