Intonation "Amps It Up!" For Kids

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 11, 2011 8:20PM

You’ve seen them at Lollapalooza, North Coast and Millennium Park. We’re talking of course about the young bands fostered by Intonation Music Workshop, and when we say young, we mean young. “Chicago’s youngest band” The Pop Tots, with students as young as six-years-old, will perform this Thursday as part of the organization’s first ever gala fundraiser, “Amp It Up!” The West Loop event includes dinner, open bar, a silent auction and, of course, live music. Chicago’s own Autumn Defense (Pat Sansone and John Stirratt of Wilco) will be on hand for a special acoustic set.

The folks behind IMW certainly know their music-loving supporters with items like a signed LCD Soundsystem poster, dinner at Piece and tickets to a Hideout show, and VIP tickets to a Metro show of your choice up for grabs at auction. Honorary board member Sansone even got his Wilco bandmates to sign a brand new Fender Telecaster Deluxe Guitar that will be top the item in a live auction. Sports fans can get excited about front-row Blackhawks tickets, and Dan Bernstein from 670 AM The Score emceeing the evening. And they didn’t forget the foodies, with Half-Acre and Hot Dougs getting in on the prizes, too.

IMW is a non-profit that mentors hundreds of kids in Chicago’s underserved areas every year free of charge in their after school program dubbed “After School of Rock.” If you can’t make it to the gala, but would still like to help, you can make a donation here.

“Amp It Up!” takes place this Thursday, October 13th at Alhambra Place, 1240 W. Randolph. Tickets are $100 ($110 door).