Virtual Hot Stove Cool Music Concert will feature Common, James Taylor, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Nada Surf, Nick Lowe and more!

Virtual Hot Stove Cool Music Concert will feature Common, James Taylor, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Nada Surf, Nick Lowe and more!

Hot Stove features some of baseball’s brightest stars including Bronson Arroyo, David Ortiz and David Ross

Tickets on sale now for June 25th virtual event benefiting Theo and Paul Epstein’s Foundation To Be Named Later in lieu of annual Chicago concert; Presented by Google, Sloan & Beam Suntory

CHICAGO (June 17, 2020) – The most important Hot Stove Cool Music concert in 20 years goes virtual, bringing together music and baseball to raise critically needed funds for youth and families from Chicago and Boston neighborhoods that have been significantly impacted by recent events. Appearances by Grammy Award-winning artists Common, James Taylor, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, as well as an all-star lineup of music and baseball stars. The concert, which was scheduled in lieu of the live show in Chicago, will take place on Thursday, June 25th, on YouTube starting at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and Baseball Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons lead a roster of talented musicians who are slated to perform, including: Band of Their Own (featuring Letters to Cleo’s Kay Hanley and Belly’s Tanya Donelly  and Gail Greenwood); MLB pitching standout Bronson Arroyo; New York Yankee legend Bernie Williams; Chicago Cubs play-by-play announcer Len Kasper; Sunshine Boys; Nick Lowe; Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom); Will Dailey; Eli “Paperboy” Reed; Nada Surf; and Jason Narducy (Bob Mould/Superchunk).

Bernie Williams, NYY Legend and Chicago Children’s Choir will lead off the event, which will be emceed by actor/comedian/writer/producer Mike O’Malley, and will include an online auction of sports and music memorabilia and unique experiences. Cubs manager and Dancing With the Stars alum David Ross, Cubs president Epstein, actor Joel Murray, NESN sportscaster Tom Caron, WXRT host Lin Brehmer, Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy, MLB greats Ryan Dempster, Lenny DiNardo, David Ortiz and Eduardo Perez along with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan and Celtics’ CEO Wyc Grousbeck headline the list of sports personalities scheduled to participate. Additional performances will be announced soon.

Hot Stove Cool Music was launched in 2000 by Peter Gammons and former Boston Herald sportswriter Jeff Horrigan and this year’s virtual concert is part of a special partnership between the Red Sox Foundation, Cubs Charities and FTBNL. HSCM participants donate their time and talent, which allows concert proceeds to go directly to supporting the youth and families that have, over the last few months, seen their neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Tickets are on sale now at ftbnl.org and start at a $5 donation. VIP tickets are available for $350 and include a pre-show virtual reception at 7:30 p.m. EST hosted by O’Malley and some of the Hot Stove Stars.

All proceeds from the event, which is presented by Google, Sloan and Beam Suntory will benefit Theo and Paul Epstein’s Foundation To Be Named Later (FTBNL). The Epsteins founded Foundation To Be Named Later in 2005 as a means to create positive change and provide important opportunities for youth and families from underserved neighborhoods in Boston and Chicago. Hot Stove Cool Music is its signature event and has raised more than $13 million. FTBNL believes that education levels the playing field and young people with a college education can positively change the trajectory of their families’ lives. Thus, they created their signature program – The Peter Gammons College Scholarships – and have invested in 170 young people with high financial needs who have overcome tremendous challenges, demonstrated a proven commitment to community service and show high educational potential, by sending them to the college of their choice, each with a mentor and plan for success.  FTBNL also supports important, innovative, front line non-profit partners including: Red Sox Foundation, Cubs Charities, The BASE, City Year, Chicago Children’s Choir, Common Ground Foundation, Beacon Academy, West End House Boys and Girls Club, Roxbury Youthworks, Zumix and others. Ticket sales from the show will allow FTBNL to continue their work getting food, tuition grants, laptops, internet, housing, transportation, emergency grants and care packages to those who have been affected by the pandemic.

“So many have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 crisis,” said Gammons. “During this time, raising money is crucial to help continue to support youth and families from underserved neighborhoods in Boston and Chicago. We couldn’t imagine a summer without a show, so we are excited to bring the virtual concert directly into people’s homes and, as always, we remain grateful for the musicians, sponsors, and fans who make this possible.”

Hot Stove Cool Music is presented by Google, Sloan & Beam Suntory and sponsored by a&g, Alter Group, Athletes on the Move, Bank of America, Baseball Fantasy Camp for Kids, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Trading Company, Draft Kings, Elevate Communications, Greenberg Traurig, Harpoon, Mintz Levin, Novaya, Salesforce, The Parsley Family, Tracelink, Vienna Beef, Wintrust and yot.me.