Fourth Annual “AGASTOCK” Benefit Concert

By Kim Grant

The Fourth Annual “AGASTOCK” benefit concert will be held Sunday, July 23 at, The Echo, in Los Angeles. The benefit includes live music and a silent auction, with the proceeds going to the Southern California Counseling Center’s Trauma Training Program. AGASTOCK was put together in the memory of Alice Ferguson who passed away in 2013 at age two from SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Children). The event takes place the weekend surrounding Alice’s birthday and is named after her beloved pacifier “Aga.”

Melissa Monroe is the mother of two daughters, Alice and Grace, and is the driving force behind this yearly fundraiser. Monroe credits EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy to be instrumental in getting her back on track after the death of Alice and is honored to be able to give back to an organization that has been instrumental in helping her recover from PTSD.

A longtime music fan and member of the Los Angeles roots music community, Monroe found the community and musicians supportive and compassionate in coming together for this great cause. Hosted by music journalist and author, Chris Morris, the two-stage benefit kicks off at 2:30 with a silent auction (until 6:15 pm), with music starting at 3:10 on the back porch stage of the nightclub. Artists featured include Cheetah Emoji, Tommy and Hattie Doyle, Ted Russell Kamp, Sarah Kramer and Don Heffington.  The Headliner for the event Ramsay Midwood, a former Angeleno, is flying in from Austin to contribute. His backing band is a veritable who’s who in Southern California musicians, Kip Boardman, Don Heffington, Danny McGough, and Tony Gilkyson. This is a show you don’t want to miss if you are a roots music fan.

Monroe began writing about her experience over Alice’s tragic death on her blog, Mothering in Memoriam, where she writes with a frankness that includes laughter as well as heartache. I highly recommend reading her stories with fair warning to grab a tissue.

Event Details:
Doors 2:30 pm-8 pm at The Echo 1822 Sunset in Echo Park, CA
$25 donation per person, All Ages show– free admission for children 16 and under.
Ticket info or to donate:  http://agastock.com/ 

Sponsored by: The Grand Ole Echo, The Echo, Bedrock LA, Masa of Echo Park and Sam Martinuzzi

Southern California Counseling Center is the only sliding-scale mental health facility in California that offers EMDR therapy. SCCC is an important resource for the Los Angeles community. Their counseling and outreach services are directed to that segment of the community who otherwise would not have access to services.
For more information on SCCC:  http://www.sccc-la.org/  (323) 937-1344
For more information on SUDC:  http://www.sudc.org/