WS Chronicle

Piedmont Blues Preservation Society (PBPS) annual Spirit of Giving Toy Drive and Fundraiser returns on Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 6-9 p.m. in Gas Hill Drinking Room at The Ramkat complex. It will be a special evening as community members get together in this season of kindness to donate toys to local children. 

In addition, the event will provide funds to support two ambitious acts headed to Memphis representing Piedmont Blues Preservation Society in the prestigious International Blues Challenge. The Blues Foundation takes over Beale Street and other venues in Memphis, Tennessee, for a week each January to crown champions in the annual competition. Winners of the 2024 PBPS Road to Memphis Blues Challenge, African Unplugged and Mark Dillon (solo), will provide live music for the evening with plenty of opportunities to support their journey. 

Hailing from Durham, “Africa Unplugged” is a dynamic group fronted by djembe master, guitarist, and songwriter, Atiba Rorie. The band uses traditional percussion instruments from West Africa in combination with guitars and bass and this creativity results in a funky and soulful blues-inspired modern take on tradition using both English and a language dialect from Mali in their lyrics.

All cash donations and purchases will support the musicians and all toy donations will go to his Laboring Few Ministries for distribution supporting North Carolina families. 

Unwrapped new toys for children ages 0 – 13 are requested as an entrance fee or a pay what you can ticket with a $10 suggested minimum gift to PBPS available presale via website piesmontblues.org or theramkat.com.

For more information on PBPS, please visit https://piedmontblues.org/.