Madison-based nonprofit Joey’s Song, which has raised more than $1.75 million so far for epilepsy research and education, has announced the lineup for its Freezing Man series of benefit concerts in Wisconsin’s capital in January.
The two-night event, Jan. 9 and 10 at The Sylvee will include performances by more than 35 artists, including Grammy winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Top 40 hitmakers, and alternative rock icons. The event will be hosted with comedian Charlie Berens.
Night number one will be an unplugged night with acoustic sets and storytelling by the artists and seating for the audience. Saturday night will be a rock and roll gig.
Returning artists – it bears noting that everyone donates their time and artistry at no cost to Joey’s Song – include Butch Vig and Duke Erikson (Garbage), Vicki and Debbi Peterson (The Bangles), Tanya Donelly and Gail Greenwood (Belly), Jon Auer (Big Star), Rick Nielsen and Daxx Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Kay Hanley and Stacy Jones (Letters to Cleo), Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups), John Gourley and Eric Howk (Portugal. The Man), Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne) and Freedy Johnston.
New participants this year include Jody Stephens (Big Star), Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Gos), Steve Porcaro (Toto), Max Collins (Eve 6), Hugo Burnham (Gang of Four) and Marshall Crenshaw.
Once again, Madison’s Butch Vig – who is also well-known for his work as a producer with Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, L7 and Sonic Youth – will be the musical director, and his popular covers group, The Know-It-All Boyfriends, will be the house band.
And once again, the plugged-in event kicks off with a Battle of Bands between’s The Know-It-All Boyfriends and the The Know-It-All Girlfriends, and closes with a massive all-star jam.
Again, as always, there will be auction items of autographed musical instruments, memorabilia and VIP packages for upcoming concerts. The auctions will be accessible online so you don't need to be at the shows to bid.
All proceeds benefit CURE Epilepsy, select Epilepsy Foundation affiliate and Wisconsin Badger Camp.
General admission tickets are $50 and go on sale Friday, Sept. 12. The concerts have sold out every year since 2014, so woe be unto those that hesitate to purchase.
My good friend Mike Gomoll founded Joey’s Song 15 years ago after the unspeakable loss of his son Joey, who passed away not long before his fifth birthday after a life-long battle with Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy.
What began as a tribute and a desire to channel devastating heartbreak into hope has become a massively successful effort to fund epilepsy research, education and family support.
Mike’s passion is what has led countless musicians and industry professionals to get behind this effort and without ever seeking a penny in recompense.
“Since our first fundraiser in 2010, Joey’s Song has hosted very memorable annual events to support epilepsy research and education, and Freezing Man is the latest – and most exciting – incarnation of that tradition,” Mike says.
“Now in its second year, Freezing Man will bring together an extraordinary mix of musicians for what promises to be our most ambitious concerts yet. It’s always been about more than music—it’s about connection, hope, and honoring Joey’s memory. We’re humbled by the artists who give their time and talent, and grateful to the fans whose support truly changes lives for families impacted by epilepsy.”
For more info, sponsorship opportunities, auction items, lineups, etc., go to JoeysSong.org.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press. A fifth collects Urban Spelunking articles about breweries and maltsters.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has been heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
