West Of Rome: Vic Chesnutt

West Of Rome: a celebration of the songs of Vic Chesnutt. With: Petröleo, El Gran Amant, L.A., Son & The Holy Ghosts, My Dear Flotsam, Astrolabio, Sr. Nadie, Gran Sol, Oliva Trencada, Toni Monserrat, John Tirado.

On Christmas Day last year Vic Chesnutt left us never to return. Suddenly we lost one of the great American song writers of recent years.

From that day many have smiled remembering his comical anecdotes, others have listened again to discs like “West Of Rome”, “Drunk” and “North Star Deserter” and even more have wanted to find out who was that guy in a wheelchair that has left behind so much and touched so many people, that sharp observer of the dark side of man, dragging out a burst of laughter and chilling the soul with the same song.

Being an extraordinary poetic talent guarantees nothing in the United States, but this singer-songwriter from Athens had something more than talent: instant empathy with the people. Because of that, in 1996 he had already recorded an album of covers with the intention of collecting funds to help financially challenged musicians with health problems. With the memory of this, after his death, a bank account has been opened to take donations along with several benefit concerts being organised to carry on his exemplary work in the United States.

In Spain Vic Chesnutt was also highly respected. As soon as it was known of his passing away musicians and fans alike across the country expressed their wish “to do something” to help remember him by… and to help pay the 70,000 dollars in unpaid medical bills that had amassed prior to his death. So it comes to pass on April 24 here in Teatre Lloseta there will be a collection of Mallorcan musicians with a unique objective: remember and relive his music and send the collection to the family.