Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Hundreds of Celtic-music and dance fans packed the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, in downtown Miami, Florida, August 1, to cheer on "The Three Jacks & Amigos" in their first benefit anniversary concert for victims of the 2007 Peru earthquake. The sold-out concert raised funds and boosted awareness of the need for continued reconstruction efforts in southern Peru.

One of Miami's best-loved live bands and award-winning recording artists, The Three Jacks rocked the Arsht Center with their high-energy interpretations of traditional Celtic tunes such as "Whiskey in the Jar," "Work o' the Weavers" and "Matty Groves." Many songs celebrate bravery and endurance in the face of disaster - qualities also exhibited by the survivors of the 8.0-degree earthquake that shook Peru last August 15. 

Sharing the stage with The Three Jacks last Friday night were champion Irish step-dancers from the Breffni Academy of Irish Dance, whose high kicks and leaps electrified the standing-room-only audience.

"We are thrilled that the concert was such a success, both musically and as a fundraiser," says Henk Milne, the band's leader singer. "So many people have opened their hearts and wallets to help children and families in Chincha and Pisco. One year after the August 15 earthquake, the people of southern Peru have not been forgotten."

Under the banner of the "Angels with a Mission" fundraising tour, The Three Jacks have raised nearly $80,000 toward their initial $250,000 goal to help build medical centers in Chincha and Pisco. The medical centers are being built by the Peruvian American Medical Society (PAMS) and PAMS Para Peru (PPP).

The Three Jacks' online fundraising site at FirstGiving has raised over $77,800 to date, under the auspices of the Angels with a Mission Foundation, Inc.  Online donations can be made at http://www.firstgiving.com/jacks4kids  .

The Miami concert is the first in a series of planned concerts to take place in Lima and Chincha at future dates in 2008 (TBA). While touring Peru, the band will combine their talents with those of members of the Afro-Peruvian musical community of El Carmen.

Notes Milne: "We are so looking forward to coming to Peru and working wth dancers and drummers from the El Carmen tradition.  This will be a tremendous fusion of culture and spirit."

No strangers to musical fusion, the multi-talented members of The Three Jacks have played with many legendary musicians such as Bob Dylan, Richie Havens and Chuck Berry. Guitarist Jack Shawde performed with Enrique Iglesias at the Latin Grammy Awards; fiddle player Jack Stamates can be heard on Shakira's platinum-selling CDs "Donde Esta Las Ladrones" and "Latin Laundry" and J. Lo's "On the Six."

In addition to ticket sales and private donations, the "Angels with a Mission" effort has received generous donations from the Bounty Group, Fyffes, American University of the Caribbean, and others.

For information on The Three Jacks and the Angels with a Mission fundraising effort, visit http://www.thethreejacks.com and click on "Peru Tour."

To listen to excerpts from The Three Jacks' album "Treachury, Lust & Misfortune," and to purchase CDs, visit http://cdbaby.com/cd/threejacks

To learn about the Irish step dancers of Breffni Academy, visit www.breffniacademy.com

For  information about PAMS, visit www.pamsnational.com

All photos courtesy of © 2008 robertstolpe.com