(AUSTIN, TEXAS – August 8, 2017; source: Juice Consulting) – Austin nonprofit, Black Fret, has announced the date for the fourth annual Black Fret Ball at The Paramount Theatre taking place on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, where its 2017 grant recipients will be announced. The evening will include performances by many of the 2017 Black Fret Nominees. This year’s Black Fret Ball will be sponsored by Dell, Deloitte and Sunpower, with additional sponsors forthcoming. Anyone wishing to attend the Black Fret Ball may become a member of Black Fret by signing up at www.blackfret.org/join. All Black Fret memberships provide entry for the member and a guest to all upcoming Black Fret events as well. For more info on Black Fret, go to www.blackfret.org.
“This fourth Black Fret Ball will be the cap on an amazing 2017 season,” said Matt Ott, Co-Founder of Black Fret. “We’ve awarded $500,000 over the last three Black Fret Balls and are honored to deliver grants to all 20 of our 2017 Black Fret Nominees on Dec. 9 at the Paramount.”
The 2017 Black Fret Grant Nominees include Akina Adderley, Black Pistol Fire, Bright Light Social Hour, Carolyn Wonderland, Cowboy Diplomacy, Croy and the Boys, Daniel Eyes, David Ramirez, Eric Tessmer, Greyhounds, Jackie Venson, Jane Ellen Bryant, Kinky Machine, Leopold and his Fiction, Los Coast, Mobley, Sarah Sharp, The Deer, Warren Hood and Whiskey Shivers.
“Our mission is to fund the creation and performance of local music in our great city,” said Colin Kendrick, Black Fret Founder. “Austinites continue to step up and join Black Fret to support our musicians and their music. It’s amazing to be part of such a dynamic community.”
Black Fret is a public charity headquartered in Austin whose mission is to empower musicians to create and perform great new music. The organization is an innovative evolution of the age-old symphony patronage model that is focused on supporting popular local music. To date, Black Fret has awarded $500,000 in grant dollars to local Austin artists. Black Fret grant recipients unlock their grant dollars by writing, recording and performing new music and by providing community services to other area nonprofits. To date, Black Fret grants have resulted in 332 U.S. tour dates, 228 songs written, 197 songs recorded, 111 charitable performances, 101 songs and videos released and 31 international tour dates to date.