Shows to Honour Vic Chesnutt

Friends of Vic Chesnutt are planning a fitting tribute to the talented singer-songwriter on February 19-20 in his hometown of Athens, Georgia.

According to the Future of Music Coalition, the two-night live musical tribute to Chesnutt is being billed as "A Celebration of Vic Chesnutt's Life and Music" and will feature performances by Chesnutt's band-mates Guy Picciotto (Fugazi) and Silver Mt. Zion, as well as Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous, Howe Gelb, Victoria Williams, Elf Power and Lambchop, among many others.

As has been widely reported, Chesnutt died last Christmas Day in an Athens hospital after overdosing on muscle relaxants. His death came only two weeks after finishing up a celebrated Canadian tour with Picciotto and members of Silver Mt. Zion as his backing band. He was 45 years old.

Proceeds from the shows will go towards Chesnutt's health care debts. A great deal of speculation has been made that the large debt could have been the prevailing reason for his suicide.

The host of the shows, the Future of Music Coalition, is a nonprofit organization celebrating independent music and ensuring musicians get compensated fairly for their art, as well as advocating that music fans have easy access to the work of independent artists. The organization claims Dischord Records' Ian MacKaye and Kill Rock Stars' Slim Moon on their board of directors.

A Celebration of Vic Chesnutt's Life and Music @ the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA:

February 19:

Five Eight
Daniel Hutchens (of Bloodkin)
Jack Logan and Kelly Keneipp
Ham1
Dave Barbe & the Quick Hooks
Todd McBride and Rob Veal
Kelly Hogan
Amorphous Strums
Ben Mize
Curtiss Pernice and Sam Mixon
Flash to Bang Time
Todd Nance and William Tonks
Jill Carnes
John Keane


February 20:


Will Johnson (of Centro-matic)
Elf Power
Victoria Williams
Howe Gelb
Patterson Hood
Mercyland
Guy Picciotto and Mt. Zion
Lambchop
Tenement Halls
Mark Linkous
Jeffrey Richards