The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, a 501(c)3 grass roots charity founded by displaced New Orleans musicians after Katrina provides grants, instruments and a free concert series about to launch again. Our reloaded New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund's ReDefine 8/29 Download includes Ian Hunter, Holsapple - Stamey with Branford Marsalis and many other tracks for $8.29: (HERE).  We are grateful to those who have contributed instruments including including two baby grands, one from Pearl River) to a teacher (at right) and the other to a displaced pianist. A New Jersey school donated uniforms to a school band that had none, and we can't wait to see the band marching. As described by New Orleans writer Chris Rose, our charity has been able to pass along evacuation vehicles, guitars, horns, drums, concertinas and more. All instrument donations are welcome. In a tough economic time, we're grateful that the Subdudes benefit at Mid City Lanes Rock n Bowl over Jazzfest helped us keep helping musicians. Thanks to everyone who reaches out, including Euclid Records which released a limited run of Benefit 45 albums with live tracks from Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate, Terry Adams of NRBQ, Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey and more. Legendary album artists provided covers  HERE. Euclid is about to launch its new New Orleans location, so welcome to the neighborhood.

Teen Helps Young Rockers Through Bat Mitzvah The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund has given out Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp scholarships and, thanks to Chicago teenager Mel who donated her Bat Mitzvah funds to buy guitars for 14 young New Orleans musicians. One of the young rockers was able to play his new guitar at Rock Camp along with New Orleans musician Shamarr Allen (at right), now rocking Bring Em To the Dome. The rock counselors spent time with the legendary Smokey Johnson and Cosimo Matassa and named their group the Cosimo's Kids, winning Best Set of the Tour. Individual donations, from instruments to clothing, have helped keep our grass roots organization growing for five years now.

The Car so Nice, NOMRF Gave it Twice In the first few years after the storm, the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund was able to mail hundreds of direct emergency grants to musicians across the country to help them return, but the charity now receives more physical items than financial donations ranging from drums to desks.  One example is Tanio, a brass band drummer who received a donated van for gig transportation (at left). When his NOMRF-donated van was stolen, the lawyer who processed the donation paperwork donated her husband's car just in time for his family's Hurricane Gustav evacuation. No third car required yet, but we appreciate everyone involved in keeping the band in wheels.

Instruments and Furniture Delivered to Musicians Village For those who have returned to New Orleans and are just now furnishing their homes, Furnishing Our Neighbors partnered with the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund's ReDefine 8/29 Campaign to offer four-star hotel-donated furniture. More than 1,000 people have already been helped with $8 and $29 furniture, and free furnishings from sofa beds to armoires have been delivered musicians including legends in the Musicians Village like Smokey Johnson, longtime Fats Domino drummer. The New Orleans Musicians Relielf Fund also brought Smokey a saxophone for his church, with the help of the ultimate friend of new Orleans music - Dr. John. Rock n Bowl which hosted a Jazzfest benefit featuring Dr. John, Marcia Ball, Joe Krown, Cynthia Chen and more for a Living Legends Benefit and tribute to Eddie Bo. As we attempt to keep ReDefining 8/29 post-Katrina, our supporters are deeply appreciated.  As the new Grammy Winner Dr. John told Entertainment Weekly about the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. "It's small organizations - they've done more than these big organizations with a lot of money." Dr. John played a Black Orchid benefit in Chicago in 2006 that helped Wardell Quezergue with a year of rent, and Wilco played a Chicago benefit in 2005 that helped the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund start sending out emergency grants to get musicians home.

Family Piano REM featured our founder's piano print (HERE), and the benefit print is available HERE to help NOMRF provide gigs, emergency help and instruments.

Sport Your Support The first post-Katrina holidays NOMRF brought the Great Southwest Holiday Toy Sleigh Ride for musicians’ children - the airline gave the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund space to bring 200 pounds of toys from Chicago to New Orleans post-Katrina. We also mailed toys to displaced musicians’ children. So many toys came in, WWOZ DJ and drummer Bob French announced that families could pull up out front of the studio while we distributed everything from skateboards to dolls. Bob is now living in Habitat for Humanity's Musicians Village, NOMRF couch, drum and all. To support these efforts, our reloaded New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund's ReDefine 8/29 download includes Ian Hunter, Edwin McCain, Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Branford Marsalis and many others (HERE). Our tees for ReDefine 8/29, Gulfeaux, NOMRF logo (right), Headphone Tee and more are available HERE.  Thank you for five years of support to New Orleans musicians from around the world.