Local bands to perform at The Bishop for Timmy Global Health

Guitars will be strummed, keyboards played and drums beaten to raise money for people in need outside of Bloomington.

At 9 p.m. today The Bishop Bar will present the Timmy Global Health Benefit, a concert dedicated to fundraising for Timmy Global Health.

All proceeds will go to the nonprofit organization dedicated to providing medical and health care services to low-income communities across the globe.

Timmy Global Health has a benefit concert every year and sometimes multiple times a year.

In the past, venues such as the Buskirk-Chumley Theater and The Bluebird Nightclub have had the event.

The Bishop will likely attract an eager crowd.

“They’re a great venue and (are) always really enthusiastic about getting involved with our cause,” said junior Sonya Jayaratna, fundraising chair on the executive board in Bloomington.

The goal is to raise $1,000, which will meet the needs of the benefit’s international partner organization, Pop Wuj.

Pop Wuj provides health care and educational opportunities to several impoverished communities in Guatemala.

While ticket sales generate the bulk of the funds, Jayaratna said extra donations are accepted and appreciated.

“All of the money raised will go toward Timmy Global Health and the clinic Timmy supports in Guatemala because we have done other fundraisers and received a grant to cover all overhead costs of the event,” Jayaratna said.

Timmy members approached bands that have done shows for them in the past and have a strong Bloomington following, and The Bishop is a staple of the community.

“We are a venue (that) is deeply rooted in the community, especially the local music scene and student organizations,” said Katie Glaser, promotion assistant at The Bishop. “If there is a philanthropy event, The Bishop has the means to help with. We strive to do so.”

The bands performing, Busman’s Holiday and The Calumet Reel, are well-known in the community, and Glaser said they are known to deliver a good show.

“The Calumet Reel and Busman’s Holiday are two wonderful bands who really represent the community well, and it is nice to see them team up with a forward-moving organization to promote a great cause,” Glaser said.

Brothers Addison and Lewis Rogers of Busman’s Holiday have been touring the United States and Canada for the last three years.

The band consists of the duo with a string section that combines to create what Lewis described as “acoustic pop.”

Some friends of the Rogers brothers approached the duo to perform at the charitable event.

“We have done shows for Timmy Global Health in the past, and it is a really good organization, so we decided to perform again,” Lewis Rogers said.

Even though he has toured with his band across the country, he said he enjoys his favorite aspect of performing when on stage in Bloomington — sharing his emotions with people he knows.

“Bloomington is a very relaxed environment, and I have some regular fans here compared to places I’ve never been to. I don’t know what to expect,”he said.

Rogers is optimistic about the benefit.

“The benefit has attracted a large crowd in the past, so I think we will have a good turnout,” Rogers said.