The Charity Aspect
The Baltic Soul Weekender is not only a music festival it also supports legendary soul artists all over the world. Due to bad contracts and mismanagement many of them need to buy their music and photographs like many other artists in record shops themselves. Many of these artists neither have national insurances nor pension funds. When they reach the retirement age, many of them are close to homelessness.
Artists such as Ann Sexton or Gloria Scott have never earned a single cent for the music they made. A mix of bad management and bad contracts have lead to these and many other similar artists, having to actually buy for their own cd’s, best of compilations, photos and the like in regular stores.
Ann Sexton has been teaching juveniles with difficulties in the New Yorker Bronx for years now, and Gloria Scott designs and makes her own jewellery in order to pay her way.
These artists have been working in regular jobs for over 30 years, and are unaware of their popularity here in Europe. After many years of not having performed on stage, the arduous task of tracing these artists pails in comparison when actually trying to persuade them to perform again, on a continent that they have only ever seen on TV.
The Baltic Soul Weekender dedicates itself to the support of these artists and seeks to provide financial, social and judicial assistance on their behalf.
Active involvement from many of our music colleagues from Germany and elsewhere such as Smudo, Mousse T, or Jan Delay have enabled this Charity to evolve and continue.
On behalf of these artists, we would like to than all those who have made it possible.
Don't keep the faith - spread it!
Your Baltic Soul Weekender Team
You too can help keep the Baltic Soul spirit alive. Simply contact info(at)baltic-soul.de for details.
