Bob Dylan was the quintessential folk singer-songwriter before he went electric after hearing The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun.” Neil Young was a popular folkie, too, before his interest in guitar distortion with the band Crazy Horse expanded his audience who called him the godfather of grunge.

 

In the Philippines, Noel Cabangon performed the folk classics of Dylan before joining the band Buklod, and Chickoy Pura sang like Young before ranting like a punk as frontman of The Jerks.

 

Cabangon and Pura are among the roster of solo acts and bands that play regularly at the folk bar My Bro’s Mustache, whose owner Boy Vinzon is himself a passionate music aficionado. He has been operating My Bro’s for almost 20 years, and apparently he intends to keep it open for as long as he can.

 

But the COVID-19 pandemic has forced him to close down the bar temporarily, for how long nobody knows–maybe until a vaccine is found.

 

In the meantime, Vinzon wants the My Bro’s regular crowd and everyone else interested to watch an online benefit concert, “The Artists of My Bro’s Mustache on Q,” on May 6 at 9:00 p.m. to help tide the musicians over in this quarantine period.

 

 

Catch the livestream on fb.com/mybrothersmustache/live.

 

The performers’ lineup, in order of appearance: Albert de Pano, Bong Baybay, Chickoy Pura, Lester Demetillo, Mon Espia, Old Friends (Corky Crescini, Kiko Crescini, Rene Vega), Gary Arriola, Cynthia Ubaldo Gallegos, Brixio Tan, Black Vomits (Igan D’Bayan, Bryan Escueta, Julius  Sanvictores, Mark Albert Contreras), Toto Sorioso, Bobby Mondejar and Friends (Joey Urquia, Boy Collado, Wally Singson) and Noel Cabangon.

 

Donations are welcome. Proceeds go to the performers.