Feeding the Soul Foundation

Article by Rebecca Romani

For the founder of the Feeding the Soul Foundation, Vallie Gilley, the soul does best when having fun and giving back. And when paired with creativity, it seems like the soul just takes off.

That proved to be a winning combination for Foundation’s latest concert fundraiser on Saturday, December 20, where musicians like Keith Benton of Bushwalla and Kevin Freeby, bassist for Jason Mraz, joined forces with hosts Bushwalla and Day Old Johnson to raise funds to benefit the Rock N’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles, a project which helps girls gain the confidence to reach for their dreams while learning the skills necessary for a musician.

The Holidaze concert played to a full house at the 400 seat Starlight Theater in Oceanside. Bushwalla kept the fare light along with MC Flow and a number of local artists. According to Jill Coyle, the Foundation’s publicist, concerts like the Holidaze show also allow the Foundation to showcase up and coming artists like Cody Lovaas, a local 16 year old who was recently named San Diego Music Awards winner for Best New Artist.

Just four years old, the Feeding the Soul Foundation is developing a reputation for pairing a relaxed concert atmosphere and dynamic talent with local causes like SurfAid, more national causes such as The Make a Wish Foundation and the occasional international interest such as The Indigenous Education Foundation for Tanzania.

Feeding the Soul Foundation puts on an average of eight concerts at various venues to benefit social causes often picked by the headlining musician or act.

Check their website, http://www.feedingthesoulfoundation.org, for future events and consider getting tickets in advance. If this past holiday bash is any indication, expect a fun atmosphere, a great social cause and a full house.