The Band - Pagee Go Go

BRAZILIAN MUSIC, GUATEMALAN CRAFTS MAKE “FIESTA GUATEMALA!” A GREAT ESCAPE

            “Fiesta Guatemala!” is a fun-filled evening of escape to the tropics, with enchanting, live Brazilian Samba and Latin rhythms by Madison’s own Pagee Go Go,  from
8 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2006, in the Atwood Community Center, 2425 Atwood Ave., on Madison’s near east side.

            Even better, all proceeds from the event will go to a worthy cause, to help Mayan refugees who rebuilt their village after the war to bring electricity and indoor plumbing to their village in Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawn), Guatemala.

            This special event, organized by the Madison-Guatemala Network, will feature the sexy seven-piece Brazilian band, Pagee Go Go, which has packed the house and kept everyone dancing at Carnaval 2005, Samba Fest, the Monona Terrace Convention Center, the High Noon Saloon and Café Montmartre.

            There will be a suggested minimum donation of $10 per person at the door, with soda, beer and wine for sale, along with colorful Guatemalan textiles and crafts.  Door prizes will also be given out to some of the people attending.  Advance ticket outlets include Centro Hispano, Willy St. Co-op and Stoney Hill Antiques on Regent St. up until the day before the event.

            “The 22 families of Nuevo Amanecer suffered so much during the long war in Guatemala,” said Leila Pine, a member of the Madison-Guatemala Network.  Many of them were tortured and most of them lost many loved ones during the war, she said.  They have worked hard to construct a new village from the ground up, but have no money to provide indoor plumbing or electricity for the homes or schools they have built for the approximately 80 children in the village.

            “These people still have great hope for their children and for the future, despite all that they have suffered,” Pine said.  “They inspired me immensely when I was down there last winter, and I want to repay them by helping raise money for a potable water supply and basic electricity, things we take for granted in the U.S.”

            Those who wish to send donations by mail should make their check out to CALA (Community Action on Latin America) with “Guate Benefit” on the memo line, and send it to Leila Pine, 22 Chippewa Ct., Madison, WI 53711.  Other cosponsors include Centro Hispano, the Colombia Support Network, Communities United, Latinos United for Change and Advancement, Madison-Arcatao Sister City Project, Madison-Rafah Sister City Project, Madison-area Urban Ministry, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison, Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nicaragua and WORT-FM.