Concert At The Venue To Benefit Aurora, Pilsen Food Pantries

AURORA, IL — The holiday season can be a tough time for families. In an effort to help and spread some cheer, Aurora's The Venue is hosting a "Gerald Dowd & Friends" benefit concert Friday. Proceeds from the date will benefit two food pantries, one in Aurora and one in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.

After showing proof of vaccination at the door, 21 S. Broadway St., guests can listen to the sounds of drummer Gerald Dowd, a Boston native who began playing music at age 10. At the benefit show, he'll bring a slew of guests to the floor, including Bob Kuhn, Dave Ramont, Scott Stevenson, Chris Walke, Larry Brown, John Abbey, Greg Schultz and MaryLou O'Brien Fischer.

Dowd, who has been described as "the hardest-working drummer in Chicago" by WXRT, began his foray into music at age 10 and now plays an average of 150 live shows a year, according to his bio on his website.

The musician isn't a stranger to hosting shows that benefit pantries. Following the release of his first full-length solo album in 2014, he performed a benefit concert, called Day of the Dowd, where he plays 13 hours straight with 16 different bands. In that time, he raised more than $10,000 for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, his bio reads.

He's since held second and third iterations of the hours-long concert, including in 2019 when he raised more than $20,000 for the UI Health Pilsen Food Pantry and again in 2020 when he live-streamed solo to raise $10,000 benefitting Southern Poverty Law Center.

During his career, he has played various renowned venues, from Borderline in London to the Getty Center in Los Angeles, and Steppenwolf Theater and Second City in Chicago.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. show cost between $15 to $20, benefitting the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry and the Pilsen Food Pantry. Show-goers will be required to keep their masks on when not drinking or eating during the concert. Doors are set to open at 7 p.m.

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