Oscar-winner Ryan Bingham to perform benefit concert for homeless youth

Oscar-winning musician Ryan Bingham and the nonprofit organization StandUp For Kids are joining with local musicians, artists and vendors to present a benefit concert on Sunday. It runs from noon to 4 p.m. at the James Gray Art Gallery in Santa Monica's Bergamot Station.

The inaugural one-day festival is an effort to raise funds and spread awareness on the growing issue of youth homelessness in the US. StandUp For Kids is a national nonprofit volunteer outreach organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless and street kids the afternoon.

Sunday’s show will feature live performances by The Americans, Timmy Curran and headliner Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses.

For Bingham, being able to contribute to this event was not only an honor, but also one of particular importance to him. Spending the past several years on the road traveling as a musician, Bingham says he often witnessed the harsh reality of the homeless condition in the US. It’s an issue that’s even had an impact on some of his songwriting material making this opportunity to give back all the more meaningful.

“I've always had this soft spot in my heart for the homeless community, particularly any children that are trying to survive living on the streets,” says Bingham, who was nominated for a Grammy this week for his song “The Weary Kind,” from the film “Crazy Heart.” The song won an Oscar earlier this year.

Ryan Bingham performs 'The Weary Kind.'
“When you're continually traveling around the country, you really begin to see the condition that the country is in and the condition that people are in,” he says. “You're constantly encountering people from all different walks of life at all hours of the day — so you're not always looking at the glossy side of everything — but also seeing the less fortunate side of our cities and communities and towns. I feel a lot of people still often overlook that these days, but its an important issue that definitely deserves more attention and I really admire the work StandUp For Kids is doing to make that happen.”

Proceeds from the event will go directly to benefit the Los Angeles chapter of Stand Up For Kids. Admission is $20 or a donation of a sleeping bag, which will be given to the local homeless youth population. Children under 14 are admitted free.