Austin, TX -- Texas music legend Willie Nelson has given his time and his voice to record a public service announcement that reminds Austin-area listeners to shop, eat out and enjoy great live music throughout the day designated as the 3rd HAAM BENEFIT DAY -- that is, Tuesday, October 7 -- the annual day of giving back to the hard-working, uninsured musicians who make the city so special.

Nelson's PSA joins two others, created by GSD&M Idea City and Time Warner Cable-Central Texas, that were launched this month and feature two member-musicians of Health Alliance for Austin Musicians who praise the services they received when they faced health issues and underwent surgeries.

"HAAM thanks Willie Nelson for taking time out of his busy schedule to help Austin musicians, and we hope the Austin community will follow his lead by making the effort to shop, eat out, and enjoy live music at the nearly 200 businesses participating on HAAM Benefit Day," said Carolyn Schwarz, HAAM's executive director. "Every dollar raised on HAAM Benefit Day goes toward keeping music in Austin alive and well."

Almost 200 area businesses, many with multiple locations, have answered the call this year to pledge 5 percent of their days' proceeds or make cash donations. Almost 100 performances by local bands -- many playing for the second and third year and many with members that have joined HAAM -- are scheduled for restaurants, retail outlets, clubs, office courtyards, the airport and City Hall. For a complete list of participating businesses and a music schedule, visit www.healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org (or see the 2 attachments to this release).

More than 1,200 HAAM member-musicians now have access to low-cost primary medical care provided by Seton Family of Hospitals, dental care by St. David's Community Health Foundation Leadership and mental-health and addiction-recovery services by The SIMS Foundation. Proceeds from HAAM BENEFIT DAY, along with matching grants from area philanthropic groups, as well as other fund-raising events such as HAAM's first Corporate Battle of the Bands at Antone's on September 3, make it possible to expand members' services options as well as the number of members.

Last year, the 2nd HAAM BENEFIT DAY raised $180,000 from the 175 community-spirited Austin-area businesses that participated, the ME Television telethon, and challenge grants from the Topfer Family Foundation and The Moody Foundation.

This year, 187 businesses have already signed up, including third-year presenting sponsor Whole Foods Market and returning underwriters Sony Online Entertainment and Time Warner Cable-Central Texas along with The Cain Foundation.

More information for businesses: Carolyn Schwarz at 512.324.8976 or cschwarz@healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org.

Health Alliance for Austin Musicians was founded in April 2005 when Seton Family of Hospitals and St. David's Community Health Foundation Leadership joined forces with The SIMS Foundation to provide medical, dental, and mental health care to the city's hard-working, low-income musicians. More than 1,200 member-musicians, most 35 and younger, have been served.

2008 HAAM Benefit Day MUSIC Schedule:

Whole Foods Café with KGSR	525 N. Lamar	6:00 am	Dime Store Poets
Whole Foods Café with KGSR	525 N. Lamar	7:00 am	Chris Gates
Whole Foods with 101X	9607 Research Blvd. (Gateway Shopping Center)	8:00am	Kissinger
Whole Foods Café with KGSR	525 N. Lamar	8:00 am	Guy Forsyth
Whole Foods with 101X	9607 Research Blvd. (Gateway Shopping Center)	9:00 am	What Made Milwaukee Famous
Whole Foods Café with KGSR	525 N. Lamar	9:00 am	Jon Dee Graham
City Hall	301 W. 2nd St.	11:00 am	Dave Insley's Careless Smokers
Potbelly Sandwich Works	2316 Guadalupe	11:00 am	Paul Minor
Potbelly Sandwich Works	10515 N Mopac	11:00 am	Paul Finley
Potbelly Sandwich Works	5300 S. Mopac	11:00 am	Chris Gates
Thundercloud Subs	903 W. 12th Street	11:15 am	Jackson
Book People	603 N. Lamar Blvd.	11:30am	Paula Held
Lambert's	401 W 2nd St.	11:30 am	Giant City
Thundercloud Subs	2308 Lake Austin Blvd.	11:30 am	Hilary York
Time Warner Cable	12012 N. Mopac	11:30 am	Oliver Rajamani
Time Warner Cable	730 W. Stassney	11:30 am	Kim Deschamps
City Hall	301 W. 2nd St.	11:55 am	Suzanna Choffel
Allandale Paint and Design Center	6401 Burnet Lane	12:00 pm	Jon Emery
El Sol Y La Luna	1224 S Congress Ave	12:00 pm	Jeffrye Glenn Tveraas
IBC Bank Courtyard	816 Congress Ave.	12:00 pm	David Newbould
Potbelly Sandwich Works	2316 Guadalupe	12:00 pm	Brennen Leigh
Potbelly Sandwich Works	10515 N Mopac	12:00 pm	Dave Madden
Potbelly Sandwich Works	5300 S. Mopac	12:00 pm	Shad Blair
Thundercloud Subs	1807 W. Slaughter Lane	12:00 pm	Jennifer Leonhardt
Thundercloud Subs	1700 Grand Ave. Pkwy. (at Commerce)	12:00 pm	Andrea
Whole Foods	9607 Research Blvd. (Gateway Shopping Center)	12:00 pm	Texana Dames
Time Warner Cable	12012 N. Mopac	12:30 pm	Amber Lucille
Time Warner Cable	730 W. Stassney	12:30 pm	The Gene Pool
Wal-Mart	5017 Us Hwy 290 West	12:30 pm	Billy Dee
Whole Foods Café	525 N. Lamar	12:30 pm	Brownout!
City Hall	301 W. 2nd St.	12:50 pm	Kim Miller (Marvin Dykhuis and Karen Mal)
Airport - Lefty's	3600 Presidential Boulevard	1:00 pm	Juliann Banks
Airport - Waterloo Records/Austin City Limits Store	3600 Presidential Boulevard	1:00 pm	Craig Toungate
Whole Earth Provisions	4477 South Lamar (Westgate)	1:00 pm	Graham Wilkinson & Sarah Hughes
Thundercloud Subs	2801 S. Lamar	2:00 pm	Jon Napier
Whole Earth Provisions	1014 North Lamar	3:00 pm	Window Silhouette
Airport – Highland Lakes Bar	3600 Presidential Boulevard	3:30 pm	Dertybird
Airport - Earl Campbell's Sports Bar	3600 Presidential Boulevard	3:30 pm	Abi Tapia
Neiman Marcus	The Domain, 3400 Palm Way Drive	3:30 pm	Tosca String Duo
BD Riley's	204 E. 6th St.	4:00 pm	The Dead Pyrates Society
Phil's Icehouse	5620 Burnet Road	4:00 pm	Jolly Garogers
Waterloo Records	600 N. Lamar #A	TBD	Asylum Street Spankers
Whole Earth Provisions	2410 San Antonio St	4:00 pm	Steve Marsh
Whole Foods with KLBJ-FM	9607 Research Blvd. (Gateway Shopping Center)	4:00 pm	Tommy Shannon
GSD&M Idea City	828 W. 6th St.	4:30 pm	Biscuit Rollers
Lambert's	401 W 2nd St.	5:00 pm	Kat Edmondson
Phil's Icehouse	5620 Burnet Road	5:00 pm	The Telephone Company
Waterloo Records	600 N. Lamar #A	5:00pm	The Derailers
Whole Foods with KLBJ-FM	9607 Research Blvd. (Gateway Shopping Center)	5:00 pm	Soulhat
Birds Barber Shop	6800 Burnet Rd	5:30 pm	Mostly Dead
Birds Barber Shop	2110 S Lamar Blvd	5:30 pm	el john The Selector (Thievery Corporation) Mixing music from around the world
Hyatt Lost Pines Resort	Hwy 71 E in Bastrop	5:30 pm	The Lost and Nameless Orchestra
Manuel’s	301 Congress Ave	5:30 pm	Cienfuegos
Manuel’s	10201 Jollyville Road	5:30 pm	Tres
Whole Foods Cafe	525 N. Lamar	5:30 pm	Shelley King
Applebee’s	2700 Parker Rd Ste A, Round Rock, TX  (La Frontera)	6:00 pm	TBD
Applebee’s	6315 S. I.H. 35	6:00 pm	TBD
Applebee’s	5010 US Hwy 290	6:00 pm	TBD
Applebee’s	305 S. IH 35	6:00 pm	TBD
BD Riley's	204 E. 6th St.	6:00 pm	Rick Broussard's Two Hoots and a Holler
Evangeline Café	8106 Brodie Lane	6:00 pm	Brennen Leigh
Phil's Icehouse	5620 Burnet Road	6:00 pm	Chief Rival
Thundercloud Subs	3201 Bee Caves	6:00 pm	Joe Blanda
Thundercloud Subs	201 E. Riverside	6:00 pm	Kelly McCann
Continental Club	1315 S. Congress	6:30 pm	Planet Casper $5
Guero's Taco Bar	1412 S. Congress	6:30 pm	Vanessa Lively
Hyatt Lost Pines Resort	Hwy 71 E in Bastrop	6:45 pm	Gypzee Heart
Whole Foods Cafe	525 N. Lamar	6:45 pm	Carolyn Wonderland
Phil's Icehouse	5620 Burnet Road	7:00 pm	Super Pal Universe
Threadgill's	301 W. Riverside	7:00 pm	The Uninsured All-Stars with:  Greezy Wheels; Barbara K Kooyman; Maryann Price; Chris Gage and Christine Albert; Bob Livingston; Paul Pearcy; Tony Airoldi; Richard Bowden; Instruments For Peace; Fletcher Clark; Carolyn Wonderland
Waterloo Ice House	600 N. Lamar	7:00 pm	Idgy Vaughn
Wyndham Garden Hotel	3401 South IH35	7:00 pm	LZ Love & Lightning Red
Artz Rib House	2330 S. Lamar	7:30 pm	Danny Santos
Guero's Taco Bar	1412 S. Congress	7:30 pm	Rick Hornyak
Kula Yoga	2415 Exposition	7:30 pm	Wendy Colonna
Antone's	213 W. 5th St.	8:00 pm	Blue Tuesday Band with Derek O’Brien and Malford Milligan
Evangeline Café	8106 Brodie Lane	8:00 pm	Kevin Gallaugher and Greg Anderson
Irie Coffee Bar	2310 S. Lamar #102	8:00 pm	Sara Shansky
Patsy's Cowgirl Café	5001 E. Ben White Blvd.	8:00 pm	TBD
Saxon Pub	1320 S. Lamar	8:00 pm	Chris Gates - $5
The Amersterdam	121 W. 8th Street	8:00pm	Kim Deschamps Band & Friends
Waterloo Ice House	600 N. Lamar	8:30 pm	Graham Weber
Guero's Taco Bar	1412 S. Congress	8:40 pm	Patricia Vonne
Irie Coffee Bar	2310 S. Lamar #102	9:00 pm	Chad Tracy
Momo’s	618 W 6th St # 200	9:00 pm	Sally Allen - $5
Room 710	710 Red River	9:00 pm	Adrian & the Sickness
Momo’s	618 W 6th St # 200	9:45 pm	Bukka Allen - $5
Antone's	213 W. 5th St.	10:00pm	Gary Clark, Jr.
Continental Club	1315 S. Congress	10:00 pm	The Monstas $5
Mohawk	912 Red River St	10:00 pm	Pattern is Movement and Balmorhea $6/$8 minors
Room 710	710 Red River	10:00  pm	Tia Carrera
Saxon Pub	1320 S. Lamar	10:00 pm	Jarrett Schaub - $5
Momo’s	618 W 6th St # 200	11:00 pm	Colin Gilmore - $5
Room 710	710 Red River	11:00 pm	Dixie Witch
Continental Club	1315 S. Congress	11:30 pm	Knuckle Yummy $5
Saxon Pub	1320 S. Lamar	12:00 am	Uncle Lucius - $5
Momo’s	618 W 6th St # 200	12:30 am	Dustin Welch, - $5
Club De Ville	900 Red River St	TBD	TBD
Red 7	611 E 7th St	TBD	TBD

 

LIST OF PARTICIPATING SPONSORS