Bridge School Benefit

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The Bridge School Benefit is an annual non-profit charity concert held in Mountain View, California every October at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The concerts are all organized by musician Neil Young and his wife, Pegi.

Proceeds benefit the Bridge School, which assists mentally and physically handicapped children. One of the thrusts of the program is the use of advanced augmentitive and assistive communications technologies.

The first concert was in October 1986, and, with the exception of 1987, the concert has been held every year since. It is known for having a relatively high-profile lineup and strong performances, probably due to Neil Young's extensive connections within the music industry. As a practice, but not a rule, the performers use acoustic instruments. Young also personally performs every year.

The stage layout and atmosphere at the Bridge School Benefit contribute to making it a unique experience for performers and audience. The children, their parents, caregivers and Bridge School staff not only attend the show - but are honored by being given the best seats in the house. They sit on an elevated stage immediately behind the performers. Some of the children use wheelchairs and gear to assist and augment their communications. They all clearly enjoy the music. The children demonstrate a lot of excitement - and stamina - and their reactions to the assorted musical acts are a magical part of the show.

The combined influences of this performing environment and Neil Young's example of performing for good causes has brought a great assembly of talent over the years. Further, it has created a singular environment of selflessness - of ego-free performances - that is unfamiliar in popular music today.

[edit] List of concerts

• Bridge I October 13, 1986
  • Performers Included: Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, Nils Lofgren, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Robin Williams, and Bruce Springsteen.

• Bridge II December 4, 1988 in Oakland, California at the Oakland Coliseum
  • Performers Included: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Nils Lofgren, Billy Idol, Bob Dylan, G.E. Smith, Jerry Garcia & Bob Weir, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and Tracy Chapman.

• Bridge III October 28, 1989
  • Performers Included: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Tracy Chapman, Tom Petty, and Sammy Hagar.

• Bridge IV October 26, 1990
  • Performers Included: Cheech Marin, Gene LaFond and Larry Kegan, Jackson Browne, Edie Brickell, Elvis Costello, Steve Miller, and Crazy Horse.

• Bridge V November 2, 1991
  • Performers Included: Gene LaFond and Larry Kegan, Don Henley, Nils Lofgren, Tracy Chapman, John Lee Hooker, Sonic Youth, and Willie Nelson.

• Bridge VI November 1, 1992
  • Performers Included: Sammy Hagar, Elton John, Pearl Jam, James Taylor, and Shawn Colvin.

• Bridge VII November 6, 1993
  • Performers Included: Melissa Etheridge, Warren Zevon, Ann & Nancy Wilson, Sammy Hagar & Eddie Van Halen, Bonnie Raitt, and Simon & Garfunkel.

• Bridge VIII October 1 & October 2, 1994
  • Performers Included: Crazy Horse, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Pearl Jam, Pete Droge, Mazzy Star, Ministry, and Indigo Girls.

• Bridge IX October 28, 1995
  • Performers Included: Bruce Springsteen, Beck, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois, The Pretenders, and Hootie & The Blowfish.

• Bridge X October 19 & October 20, 1996
  • Performers Included: Crazy Horse, Pearl Jam, Bonnie Raitt, Billy Idol (Day 2 Only), Pete Townshend (Day 1 Only), David Bowie, Patti Smith, Cowboy Junkies, and Hayden.

• Bridge XI October 18 & October 19, 1997
  • Performers Included: Metallica, Lou Reed, The Smashing Pumpkins, Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, and Kacey Crowley.

• Bridge XII October 17 & October 18, 1998
  • Performers Included: R.E.M., Phish, The Wallflowers, Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Jonathan Richman, Eels, and Pete Droge & Mike McCready (Day 1 Only).

• Bridge XIII October 30 & October 31, 1999
  • Performers Included: Pearl Jam, Emmylou Harris (Day 2 Only) The Who, Sheryl Crow, Green Day, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tom Waits and Bonnie Raitt (Day 1 Only), Lucinda Williams, and Brian Wilson.

• Bridge XIV October 28 & October 29, 2000
  • Performers Included: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Beck, Dave Matthews Band, Robin Williams, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and Tegan & Sara.

• Bridge XV October 20 & October 21, 2001
  • Performers Included: Crazy Horse, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Tracy Chapman, Billy Idol, Dave Matthews, Ben Harper, and Jill Sobule.

• Bridge XVI October 26 & October 27, 2002
  • Performers Included: James Taylor, Foo Fighters (Day 1 Only), The Other Ones (Day 2 Only), Ryan Adams, Tenacious D, Thom Yorke, LeAnn Rimes, Jack Johnson, and Vanessa Carlton.

• Bridge XVII October 25 & October 26, 2003
  • Performers Included: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, Indigo Girls, Wilco, Counting Crows, Incubus, and Dashboard Confessional.

• Bridge XVIII October 23 & October 24, 2004
  • Performers Included: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Tegan & Sara, Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, and Los Lonely Boys.

• Bridge XIX October 29 & October 30, 2005
  • Performers Included: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds (Day 2 Only), John Mellencamp (Day 1 Only), Los Lobos, Norah Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bright Eyes, and Good Charlotte.

• Bridge XX October 21 & October 22, 2006
  • Performers Included: Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Brian Wilson, Foo Fighters, Trent Reznor, Death Cab for Cutie, Gillian Welch, and Devendra Banhart with Bert Jansch.

• Bridge XXI October 27 & October 28, 2007
  • Performers Included: Metallica, Tom Waits with Kronos Quartet, Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, Tegan & Sara, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Mayer, and Regina Spektor. Eddie Vedder with Flea & Jack Irons were scheduled to perform but cancelled due to a private family matter.

[edit] External links

• Bridge School Website
• HyperRust Bridge School Benefit Page - Lineups, reviews, Bridge Benefit Concert-Goer's Guide
• Being There Magazine review of 2006 Bridge School Benefitit:Bridge School Benefit