LA PLATA, Md.—Island Music Company, based in La Plata, recently collected over 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food during their 2nd Annual Holiday String Give-Away. Musicians from all over Southern Maryland contributed to the event by bringing non-perishable goods in exchange for having their stringed instruments restrung, tuned, and polished by the Island Music Service Department. Food was donated to Lifestyles of Maryland, a non-profit organization, located on Charles Street in La Plata.
“The Southern Maryland community, musicians and businesses showed up with overwhelming generosity for our event this year,” says Island Music owner Keith Grasso. Local business Casey Jones offered 20% off pizza for all participants and Charles Street Boutique offered $5 off any salon service. Each musician that participated was entered into drawings for free gear including a free Yamaha guitar and Peavey guitar amplifier. Yamaha guitar winner Caitlyn Price donated a whopping 113 pounds of canned goods, rice and other non-perishables setting a record for the most food donated by a single person since the event was first held last year.
While participants waited for their guitars they were entertained by Rikk Beatty, an internationally known guitarist and Ampeg Amplifier clinician. Beatty demonstrated Ampeg’s hottest new line of guitar amps the GVT Series. Hank Ettel a Peavey Electronics Representative answered questions and demonstrated Peavey’s hit guitar amplifier the Vypyr. Other sponsors include DBZ Guitars, Godin Guitars, D’Addario, DR Strings, ESP, Ernie Ball, Washburn Guitars, PRS Guitars, Line 6, and Yamaha.
To thank everyone for their participation, Island Music Company will be hosting a free concert by Michael Angelo Batio (voted “No. 1 Shredder of All Time” by Guitar One Magazine in 2003 as well as “Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time” and “20 Greatest Shredders of All Time” in 2008) on December 10 at Casey Jones in La Plata. Batio is a national guitar artist and columnist from Chicago and will be giving an educational seminar and performance as well as signing autographs and posing for pictures. Contact Island Music Company at 301-392-3960 for more information or visit their Web site at http://www.islandmusicco.com/ for more details.