GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION CONCERT “STAY AMPED” TO TAKE PLACE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MARCH FOR OUR LIVES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Today, I.M.P. and The Anthem in Washington, D.C. announced a special benefit concert — “STAY AMPED” — that will take place on March 23 to support the March for Our Lives movement. Headliner Fall Out Boy will be joined by G-Eazy, BeBe Rexha and Lizzo, among others. Fall Out Boy is curating the line-up and is working with additional surprise superstar guests who will also take the stage. The voices of students, gun violence survivors and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School alumni will be amplified throughout the evening. The concert will benefit Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization, and Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly.
STAY AMPED tickets go on sale at 10 AMWednesday, March 14. Tickets are available through ticketfly.com and at The Anthem, 9:30 Club, Merriweather Post Pavilion and Lincoln Theatre during regular box office hours.
In the wake of the recent mass shooting that brutally cut short 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and wounded more than a dozen others, organizers of the student-led March For Our Lives will take to the streets on March 24 in Washington, D.C., to demand that lawmakers act to end gun violence in all its forms. More than 600 sibling marches are planned across all 50 states — along with the flagship march taking place in Washington, D.C. — as an opportunity for those around the world to show their support for this important cause.
“This is a time for action. We need to support the Parkland teens, and kids across the country,” said Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. “We have their backs, and we must demand our lawmakers do more to end this gun violence crisis.”
“Music brings people together and we’re grateful that The Anthem is hosting this event,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Americans should be free from gun violence at school, concerts and in our daily lives. The night before Americans rally across the country as part of the student-led March for Our Lives, we’ll join together to honor the lives of all gun violence survivors and pledge to fight in their honor.”
“I’ve been an avid follower and supporter of Everytown since the Orlando nightclub tragedy,” said Lizzo. “The fight for human rights is a no brainer, and when our youth are threatened we must do everything in our power to protect them. Thank you, Everytown and Giffords for having us and working so hard for our rights.”
The artists are donating their performances and The Anthem is providing the new 6,000-person venue to the cause. In addition to General Admission tickets, 850 Super Excellent Seats (premium assigned seats in the balconies) will be offered. Each Super Excellent Seat purchase includes a complimentary student ticket that will be distributed by March organizers to student activists attending the rally from Parkland and elsewhere in the country.
“Music brings people together, fuels our energy, and offers us inspiration. It’s for those reasons music played such an important role in my recovery,” said former Representative Gabrielle Giffords. “I’m thrilled that the night before students take to the streets to march in communities across the country, this concert will provide an opportunity for us to gather and show support for the activism of young people and to encourage them to stay loud as they demand a safer future.”
“I’m looking forward to being a part of this and getting energized by these kids and other survivors who have been incredibly inspiring to me,” said G-Eazy.
Upon hearing about the tragedy in Parkland, Donna Westmoreland, C.O.O. of I.M.P., immediately teamed up with music executive Liana Huth, with whom she’s worked to create other benefits, including the Women’s March Official After Party in 2017. “We both have sons in high school, so our reaction was visceral. Like so many, we were inspired by the insight and activism of the students. As soon as we heard about the March For Our Lives, we had our plan. We reached out to Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords, who are partnering to support the MFOL student organizers, and they embraced the idea of a “STAY AMPED” benefit concert almost immediately. Crush Management and Fall Out Boy were all in, right away.”
MSD Alumni, who will be in attendance at STAY AMPED, have come together to support the students and Parkland community, and to advocate for change. They are fundraising, raising awareness and advocating for legislative changes locally and nationally. “Our hope is that the voices of thousands of our alumni will join and amplify the already loud cry for change by the students;” said MSD Alumna Rachel Thomas. “This is just the beginning.”
EDITORS’ NOTE: You can access event logos, band photos & bios and social media graphics here: stay amped. (photos, logos & creative / social)
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 4.5 million supporters and more than 250,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the Everytown Survivor Network. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown
About Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence
Giffords is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives from gun violence. Led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Navy combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, Giffords inspires the courage of people from all walks of life to make America safer.
About I.M.P.
Formed in 1980, I.M.P. is a Bethesda, Md.-based concert promoter and event production company. In addition to launching the Virgin Festival in the U.S. and Preakness InField Fest and programming and producing the Sweetlife Festival, the principals at I.M.P. own Washington D.C.’s legendary 9:30 Club, named the Top Club by Rolling Stone, Billboard and Pollstar, renowned as the premier place to see and hear cutting edge live music of all varieties. I.M.P. also programs and operates Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. and the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. The Anthem is the company’s new 2,500 – 6000 person capacity venue, which opened to national acclaim October of 2017 on the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, D.C. Over the last 36 years, I.M.P. and the 9:30 Club have put on nearly 17,000 events, hosting millions of music fans.