On July 23rd, Sweet rocked the second in our three-concert series to benefit marriage
equality on another perfect 80 degree day in California’s Wine Country.
Sweet co-founder Jen Rainin and her wife Franco Stevens welcomed about 80 guests
to their vineyard amphitheater in the northern Napa Valley vineyards for an evening
with the ultra hip Mental 99. The concert was a benefit for EQCA (Equality California).??
Joe Gore [Tom Waits, Tracy Chapman, Courtney Love] and Dawn Richardson [Four Non-
Blondes, Tracy Chapman, Shana Morrison, Martinis, Angel Corpus Christi] brought their
considerable talent and uncommonly imaginative originals and ultra-creative covers
to the unique acoustics of the beautiful Napa Valley and blew everyone’s minds! The
whole audience was on their feet almost immediately and the amphitheater turned into
the coolest club ever.
Included in our audience was EQCA’s brand-spanking new Executive Director, Roland
Palencia, who spoke briefly but passionately about the super important FAIR Eduation
Act. EQCA is a statewide organization dedicated to achieving equality and to securing
legal protections for the diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
communities of California. Equality California sponsors legislation, works with elected
officials and engages individuals and communities in the political process. Sweet raised
$3,610 for EQCA’s marriage equality work.
Sweet’s Wine Country benefit concert series for marriage equality will culminate with
Blame Sally on August 13th benefiting Horizons Foundation. This concert will sell out, so
RSVP early!
