Entertainment - Brookside to hold benefit concert

Executive Director Joy Houle said the museum, which is the home of the Saratoga County Historical Society, serves approximately 5,000 students from area schools and beyond every year, as well as adults. Since the programs require funding to exist, many different fundraisers are held year-round.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, nationally acclaimed a capella group, The Fault Line, will perform a benefit concert for Brookside Museum at 7 p.m. in the Ballston Spa High School auditorium with Skidmore College’s Drastic Measures. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door and all proceeds will go towards the museum’s education programs.

Joe Shaver, a board member of the museum, suggested getting the group after he saw them one night on the popular NBC show “America’s Got Talent.” The Fault Line recently visited Ballston Spa Middle School, where Shaver has been employed as a sixth grade English teacher for the last six years.

On Thursday, Oct. 25, the band worked with a select group from the school’s drama club, taught them the song “In the Still of the Night,” and performed it with them at two school presentations that day. The Fault Line helped the sixth grade chorus improve their stage presence and did a workshop with the drama club too.

“We’re always trying to bring arts to the school, and inspire the kids in new ways,” Shaver said.

He added that many of the students had never heard of a capella before.

Formed two years ago, The Fault Line started out touring just the Northeast. Thanks to their appearance on TV, they’re now able to perform at venues across the country.

Since two members of The Fault Line are teachers, the band is able to go into schools with well-prepared performances and workshops catered to the age group they meet with. Justin Adams, the group’s baritone and a native of Cohoes, said the Ithaca quartet’s material ranges from classic tunes from the 1950s all the way up to songs by popular artists of today including Jet, The Used and Fall Out Boy.

Adams is happy to be helping the museum raise funds for their programs. He believes they’re something worth keeping.

“This will be a great night of music helping a great cause,” he said of the benefit concert.

Houle believes the benefit concert will be very highly attended, and may even sell out. She said she has received a ton of phone calls about the event.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 885-4000 or visit www.brooksidemuseum.org.

To learn more about the band, check out www.rockthefaultline.com.