Since June 24, Venezuela has been dealing with the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes that caused thousands of deaths, with even more people displaced from their homes and in need of support. In response, the St. Louis music community is coming together for a night of music at Off Broadway on Friday, August 14, to raise money benefiting relief efforts in Venezuela.
The Venezuela Earthquake Relief Benefit Show’s organizer, Julio Prato, moved to St. Louis from Venezuela in 2012 for college, and in that time he has made South City his second home. But, as he saw so much death, displacement, and destruction on the news—especially in cities such as Caracas and La Guaira, and in neighboring states—he felt the need to lend a hand, even from afar.
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“As I was reading the news toward the beginning of July, I started getting really anxious, in the sense that I’ve got friends down there who are on the ground trying to help people, and I felt like I really needed to do something,” Prato says. “I thought about the music community that has surrounded me over here and how many times people have come together and how DIY music people in St. Louis have raised money for important causes.”
As Prato set off to put together a benefit show, he wanted to prioritize transparency around how the money would tangibly help those in need, rather than just supporting large bureaucratic institutions. Prato decided to partner with Ayudandito, which translates to “little helper” in Spanish. Founded by Prato’s friend Diego Vega, Ayudandito is focused on providing necessary resources, such as tents, awnings, sleeping mats, hygiene kits, and other basic needs for people in Venezuela displaced as a result of the earthquakes.
“I think a lot of times when people are doing benefits, there’s a fear around Who am I sending money to? Is this going to a big organization where I don’t know where it’s going?” Prato says. “Thankfully, my best friend from back home, Diego, had started Ayudandito. He and volunteers work to not only help these communities out, but also to connect and really understand what they need. I really loved the work he was doing, and it is exciting to raise money for something where I knew exactly where the money is going.”
In terms of the programming for the Venezuela Earthquake Relief Benefit Show, Prato wanted to showcase some of the best acts currently playing while offering a variety of music styles to bring different communities together.
“I really like it in my shows if there’s a mixed bag of styles and genres, so people can get exposed to things they haven’t heard before,” Prato says. “I definitely went into booking this show saying, Let me just book the absolute best, so we can get as many people out as possible not only for a good night of helping out, but also a good night of music.”
Kicking off the night and setting the vibe is an intimate acoustic set on the patio from Prato’s own Julio César Ensemble. Then, inside, the main stage will feature indie rock from Goo Man, exciting electronic music from Dour, and the experimental art-rock stylings of Piracy, another project of which Prato is part. Despite playing in two of the groups featured, Prato is probably most excited about the show’s headliner, local DIY legends Little Big Bangs, who just recently started playing shows again after a hiatus.
“They’re just such an exciting band to see perform live,” Prato says. “I hadn’t seen them for a long time, until they played a one-off show recently. I was reminded how much I love those Little Big Bangs recordings, but when I see them live, it’s absolutely electric.”
Overall, what excites Prato most is the opportunity to support his home country in a time of great need through the community that has helped make St. Louis feel like home.
“Community around here is a really high priority, and it’s always exciting to see that in action,” Prato says. “South City has become my second home, and I’m really excited about the fact that we can ask the South City DIY community to show our faces and show that we’re helping out back home. I am really grateful for both of my homes and what they’ve done for me, and seeing that connection between the two is really exciting to me.”
For more information about the Venezuela Earthquake Relief Benefit Show and to purchase tickets, visit offbroadwaystl.com.
