Apocalypse Meow continues its fundraising mission for local musicians | The Kansas City Star

No news is good news when it comes to the seventh annual Apocalypse Meow benefit: This year’s event will be much like recent years, a sign of the fundraiser’s success.

Launched in 2008, Apocalypse Meow collects money for the Midwest Music Foundation’s health care fund, which assists local musicians. It was renamed Abby’s Fund last year in memory of Abigail Henderson. A founder of MMF, she died in 2013, five years after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Over the course of seven years, Apocalypse Meow has evolved into two nights of music, including a free all-ages pre-party that has moved to Westport.

“Since the Midwestern Musical Company closed, we are having our free pre-party at Mills Record Company,” said Rhonda Lyne, director of development for MMF. “Then we head to RecordBar for Katy Guillen & the Girls and Chris Meck and the Guilty Birds.

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“The main event Saturday at Knuckleheads will be similar to last year, except we are using all three stages, depending on the weather.”

And thanks to one of its sponsors, the Kansas Speedway, organizers were able to bring in an out-of-state performer for the first time: singer/songwriter Joe Pug, a native Chicagoan now living in Austin, Texas.

Through the Abby Fund, the MMF has distributed $45,000 in grants to 26 musicians.

“Everyone who has applied has been given some kind of financial assistance or help in finding other resources,” Lyne said.

MMF has delivered more than just financial assistance, including low-cost annual checkups and an open house with the KC Care Clinic, which has provided blood pressure screenings, advice on applying for the Affordable Care Act and information on registering with the clinic.

“We have been working to help educate musicians on their options when suffering a medical emergency and guide them to other resources,” Lyne said. “We also have offered more educational programming. We have our annual legal boot camp for musicians during Crossroads Music Fest with the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts. Also, we have done educational events with InterUrban Art House.”

MMF also has two events in December: the annual Murder Ballad Ball and the Midwestern Audio CD release, a two-disc music compilation featuring local bands and performers.