Thank you to all the bands who donated their performances: Zoe Muth, Kristen Ward, Massy Ferguson, Star Anna and The Laughing Dogs, Mark Pickerel, Kasey Anderson and The Honkies, and Tom Bennett & The Rolling Blackouts.

This year’s Gimme Shelter event will be bigger than ever, as ten bands unite to end homelessness. The concert will be hosted by The Dusty 45s’ own Billy Joe Huels, and will include performances by The Dusty 45s, Zoe Muth, Vince Mira, Kristen Ward, Massy Ferguson, Star Anna and The Laughing Dogs, Rachel Flotard and Rusty Willoughby, Mark Pickerel, Kasey Anderson and The Honkies, and Tom Bennett & The Rolling Blackouts.

DESC’s mission is to shelter and house Seattle’s most vulnerable homeless adults, particularly those with serious mental and addictive illnesses. Through partnerships and an integrated array of comprehensive services, treatment, and housing, DESC serves over 7,000 people annually. DESC is vital organization in the Seattle community. The Huels family and The Dusty 45s are proud to be associated with their valuable work.

Advance tickets for Gimme Shelter are available here or in person at The Showbox, Easy Street Records, and Sonic Boom Records for $15. Tickets at the door are $18. Proceeds from ticket sales go directly to DESC.

This event is sponsored by Wells Fargo, Key Bank, and Walsh Construction.

DESC is Seattle’s largest homeless service provider, and focuses on the needs of vulnerable men and women living with persistent and severe mental illness. DESC’s integrated program of shelter, mental health care, addiction treatment and employment services effectively connects people to appropriate affordable housing and services. For almost 30 years, DESC has operated the largest emergency shelter in Seattle and today is also the largest provider of Housing First apartments for homeless people in the region. In the last three years, DESC has connected over 1,500 people to housing, more than any other agency in the state.

Billy Joe of The Dusty 45s knows first hand the impact DESC can make in a person’s life:

“When it comes to DESC, I can speak from personal experience about the comfort they provide to families like mine,” says Billy Joe Huels of the Dusty 45s, who will also be releasing their new EP, Fortunate Man, at the event. “DESC provided my mentally ill brother real options when he had none. Matthew lives with schizophrenia and was homeless for 8 years. When he wasn’t living on the street, his most common residences were King County Jail and Western State Hospital. He failed again and again in other shelters and housing situations. DESC is the first agency to successfully monitor his medication. He recently marked one year in an apartment of his own, operated by DESC. Through their service, my brother now has a humane and stable existence.”

Billy Joe’s family with brother Mathew.

There will be two shows. The first at 7pm all ages and the second at 10pm 21+. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will directly benefit the programs of The Downtown Emergency Service Center and will be generously matched by Safeco Insurance. We would love to see you come out and support a great local organization that is making a difference in our community one life at a time!

The Dusty 45s

Tiny Vipers

Kristen Ward