The Kalamazoo concert aims to support the homeless

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) – Several bands from West Michigan will be rocking out for a good cause next week.

A group of Western Michigan University students who are members of the alternative psychedelic band Mushroom Jam are working to host a concert in Kalamazoo that will benefit the homeless community.

The concert, which takes place on October 15 at Davis Street Park, is free. Attendees are asked to bring canned goods and clothing, which will be donated to help Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries.

The students are working with the Vine Neighborhood Association to host the event. Band members said they were inspired to do the show by the people in their neighborhood.

“A lot of homeless people come to us. And usually they’re all very nice and they’re just like, ‘Hey, is there anything you can do to help me a little bit?’ And it sucks to say no because we’re all broke college kids,” said Austin Osuch, a member of Mushroom Jam. “So this was a great way to bring everyone around music together for a good cause, and our local community in particular has definitely recognized that this is an issue.”

The band thanked the neighborhood association for allowing the concert to be held at a local skate park.

“It’s going to be family friendly, as a condition of us hosting the show, we just have to keep all the music clean… If you bring your kids and you don’t want them to hear bad music, that’s not going to be played,” Parker Freeman assured , a member of the Mushroom Jam band.

The benefit concert will take place next Saturday, October 15, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Davis Street Park in Kalamazoo.

Mushroom Jam and several other West Michigan bands will play. Concert-goers are asked to bring either a can or clothing.