Bluegrass concert to benefit Education Foundation's individual scholarship fund

The Grand Rapids Downtown Market will host a bluegrass concert featuring the Chapel Hill, N.C. band Mipso on October 22 at 7 p.m. to benefit the Education Foundation’s individual scholarship program.

Mipso is a southern bluegrass trio featuring fiddler and vocalist Libby Rodenbough along with Jacob Sharp on mandolin, Joseph Terrell on guitar, and Wood Robinson on bass. Mipso’s 2013 debut album with a mix of three-part harmony and Appalachian influences rose to #8 on Billboard’s bluegrass charts. The band is currently touring the country in support of their newly released album, "Old Time Reverie," which debuted at #1 on the Billboard bluegrass charts this week. Local bluegrass musician Mark Lavengood will open for Mipso, and perform with them throughout the evening.

“The success of bands like The Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons points to the rising popularity of bluegrass, folk-style music. Mipso is a fun up-and-coming band with a huge following, and we’re lucky to be a part of the tour for their new album,” says Mimi Fritz, president and CEO of the Downtown Market. “Their southern bluegrass style combined with Grand Rapids native Mark Lavengood is going to be a toe-tapping, foot-stomping great time for a good cause.”

The Downtown Market Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to offer culinary and nutritional education, entrepreneur opportunities and a place for local food production. With the goal of creating a healthier community lifestyle, the organization supports access to, and promotion of, fresh healthy foods for all, including disadvantaged families and children.

To date, the foundation has given more than 3,000 scholarships and brought in nearly 40 community organizations for nutrition education, culinary and gardening classes and training in entrepreneurship and food production. The Mipso concert will help fund additional individual class scholarships, and is underwritten by David and Judy Frey.

“All of the ticket sales from this concert are going directly to the individual scholarship fund,” says Fritz. “Each ticket sold will directly help fund a class for a community member in need to learn about how to cook healthy meals and use fresh produce in their everyday life.”