Local musician hosting first annual Big Country Big Band Benefit for MyHouse

WASILLA — Valley musician Jamie Bailey is hosting the first Big Country Big Band Benefit, a live concert featuring numerous local performers that serves as a fundraiser for MyHouse Mat-Su Homeless Youth Center.

“I think it’s awesome when people want to support homeless and at risk youth... It’s huge,” MyHouse Director of Human Trafficking Recovery Services Staci Yates said.

Bailey is holding the Big Band Benefit out of his shop at Big Country Excavation in collaboration with Moon Dog Media and Hatcher Pass Polaris Sunday, starting at 1 p.m.

Several Alaskan acts across genres will join Bailey was musical guests during the event. Moon Dog Media founder Michael B. Dillon said that he was thrilled by the incredibly fast response by local artists who were behind the cause.

Dillon said that he admires MyHouse’s tireless efforts supporting youth across the Valley, and he respects their overall approach with their clients. He said they offer clients tools that empower them to be independent.

“MyHouse, they do a really great thing in the fact that they’re not giving handouts. They’re giving hands up… There’s so many people that just writes these kids off… Some of the stories I’ve heard from Michelle Overstreet, the director over there, they just get ya. These kids, they want to be better. That’s why they want to be in the program,” Dillon said. “Anything I can do to help out with something like that, I’m all over it, and Jamie is the same way,” Dillon said.

Dillon said they’re already planning for next year’s event. He said it may end up opening to support other nonprofits in the Valley, or branch out into separate events at different places throughout the year.

He said they’re holding a fundraiser in July for Access Alaska to raise awareness for traumatic brain injuries and help them purchase a 15-passenger van. He noted that they plan to keep finding creative ways to support the community at large as they continue to foster local talent and create opportunities for emerging artists like Bailey.

“We’re going full tilt,” Dillon said.

Yates is excited for this new fundraiser. She said that she and the rest of the MyHouse team are very grateful that Bailey reached out to start an event like this.

“I think it’s gonna be really good because it’s spotlighting local artists… People are looking for this kind of stuff right now,” Yates said.

Local rapper and MyHouse case manager and suicide prevention specialist Justin Pendergrass is part of the event lineup. He also plans to take a moment to talk about suicide prevention, and the general MyHouse mission.

“I love that they’re tying music into fundraising. I think that is always important, and I love hearing local talent,” Pendergrass said.

The Big Country Big Band Benefit will take place at Big Country Excavation, located at 6830 East Green Glen Drive in Wasilla.

The BBQ Babes and Smokehouse BBQ food trucks will be onsite and Klondike Mike’s will be serving alcohol after 5 p.m. Admission is $25.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com