Jerry Joseph Announces Iraq Refugee Benefit Concert At Brooklyn Bowl

This spring, Jerry Joseph, critically acclaimed songwriter and international touring artist, is traveling to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to perform and provide music education to refugees living in camps near the city of Sulaymaniyah. To raise money for the trip, Jerry be playing three benefit shows with his band, the Jackmormons, and very special guests, two on the US west coast at Mississippi Studios in Portland, OR on April 1 and at Sweetwater in Mill Valley, CA on April 2 and one on the east coast on May 1 at Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY.

Growing up internationally as the son of a renowned fisheries scientist, Joseph has always had an interest in global politics and cultures, and a curiosity in seeking out and exploring the human condition in the dark corners of the world. Sharing his songs as he's explored the world, Jerry has experienced firsthand the power of music to unify, and to promote peace, dialogue and understanding. This understanding led him to travel to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2014 to work at an underground rock school. Teaching guitar to kids in the middle of a conflict zone, Jerry saw how music provided hope and healing to those directly impacted by war and violence.

In our current anti-Islamic climate, Jerry feels he can make the most impact by showing support to those in crisis by sharing music with, and amplifying the stories of, people in the refugee camps, especially children. Jerry states, "I think particularly now, in these days of Islamaphobia and xenophobia in general, it's crucial that these young people know there are many people over here who actually give a damn about them and their futures. If I didn't have my own children at home, I would be doing nothing but this..."

In addition to these benefits, Joseph has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds and awareness. The money from both of these fundraisers will be used to pay for trip and project expenses. Any money raised over and above expenses will be used to purchase items from the US as requested by the refugee camps and/or will be given directly to the NGOs that run the various camps in Sulaymaniyah.

Show info:
April 1st at Mississippi Studios in Portland OR
Featuring Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons with Jenny Conlee and the Paul Brainard Horns, Patterson Hood, Chris Funk, Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck,
Lenore, Casey Neill
Doors: 7pm
Show: 8pm
21+
$17 ADV / $20 DOS

April 2nd at Sweetwater in Mill Valley, CA
Featuring Steve Kimock, Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Jeff Chimenti (Dead & Co.), Dan Lebowitz (ALO), Sikiru Adepoju, Steve Drizos, Eric McFadden, Angeline Saris (Zepparella), Queen Delphine, James Nash
Doors: 7pm
Show: 8pm
All Ages
$25 ADV / $30 DOS

May 1st at Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn NY
Featuring Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons and friends
Doors: 6pm
Show: 8pm
21+
Tickets on sale on March 17 at 10am EST
$15

About the Artist
Jerry Joseph has been writing, recording and playing music for well over three decades, and has released over 30 records as a solo artist and frontman for bands such as The Jackmormons, Stockholm Syndrome, Little Women and The Denmark Veseys. In 2014, Jerry traveled to Afghanistan to work as a teacher at Rock School Kabul and bring needed music equipment to the school. He performs more than 150 shows a year across the globe, including recent tours in Lebanon, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Nicaragua as well as Europe and the United States. His latest album, By The Time Your Rocket Gets To Mars, was released in April 2016.