For The Next Two Weekends, You Can Rave for a Good Cause Without Going to the Club

Courtesy Photo

For the final two weekends of October, electronic music fans can dance — or walk, or run, or bike, or swim — for a good cause.

On Oct. 22-24 and 29-31, mark the final two weekends for Around the World in 80 Raves, a fundraising initiative being supported by an all-star group of artists including Sasha, Sofi Tukker, Bicep, Adam Beyer, Ida Engberg, Peter Hook, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Ellen Allien and many more.

Sets from these acts are being streamed via the project’s website over all weekends in October as part of this global fundraiser, for which participants can choose to walk, run, cycle, swim or dance their own chosen distance goal. This distance can be completed at each participant’s own pace during October.

The project works by participants getting sponsored for this physical exertion, with participants then sending the money they raise to Around the World in 80 Raves, via the JustGiving platform. All proceeds go to a pair of charitable projects in São Paulo, Brazil, and Cape Town, South Africa. The overall goal is to have all participants contribute to a distance of 7,200 miles, which marks the distance between the 26 countries where the organization behind this initiative, the UK-based In Place of War, supports projects.

“The DJ sets are a kind of soundtrack to keep our activity challenge participants motivated, a way to celebrate their efforts every week, and also include a donate function so the audience can support from wherever they’re watching,” says Project Manager Lucy Evans.

In Place of War works with a global network of artists to use art, and especially music, to affect positive change in high conflict areas.  The 80 Raves initiative aims to raise $50,000, with $7,000 having been raised over the first two weekends. This money will be used to fund the creation of music studios in São Paulo and in the Lavender Hill neighborhood of Cape Town.

In São Paulo, donated funds will enable the creation of a Music Operating System with infrastructure for rehearsals and recording, live shows, online presentations, along with as a Music University center with career planning and digital distribution consultancy for young artists. It will also help renovate and prepare the building for events, including offering a free program of artistic and cultural events for young people who live in areas with high crime and unemployment rates. The funds will also help sustain weekly food donations to the street population of São Paulo.

In Lavender Hill, funding will support the development of a music studio and performance space constructed from repurposed shipping containers. The space will house a state of the art studio, a music computer room and a live performance area. This facility is intended to offer a safe, positive space for young people and to steer them away from gangs.

So far this month, industrious dance fans from the U.S., to Iceland, to Scotland to South Africa and beyond have participated in Around The World In 80 Raves.

Since launching 16 years ago, In Place Of War has created an international network of more than 100 grassroots change-makers in music, theater and beyond to affect change in violent areas in 26 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Their project include the creation of the female singing group GRRRL, featuring women of color from international conflict zones. Organization Fellows include Run The Jewels and Laurie Anderson. Learn more about In Place Of War below.