It's never easy to be laid off, but a Charlotte-based band is trying to make it easier.
The Business People, a rock band formed in 2010, are throwing a benefit event for staff members from Creative Loafing, who were laid off on Oct. 31. The now-defunct alt-weekly newspaper, which will continue on as a digital-only outlet, has been in business for 31 years, covering the news, arts and interesting stories around Charlotte. The paper published its last edition on Nov. 1.
On Saturday, Nov. 17, the band will host the benefit event they're calling "End Of A Brand: Rest In Paper Fest" at different venues in Charlotte's NoDa district. All proceeds from the event will go toward getting a new Charlotte alternative weekly newspaper off the ground. The festival will have vendors outside of Jack Beagle's from 1-7 p.m. and the NoDa Company Store will be hosting live performances all day.
Band member Anthony Pugliese says around 37 different bands, troupes, actors and vendors contacted them after they threw out the idea of a benefit event in a Facebook post. Pugliese says that number continues to rise. He says they are still in the process of solidifying all the acts that will be participating in the event.
To Pugliese and the band, the newspaper meant a lot to them.
"Creative Loafing has been there with us through the years, in both good and bad ways," he said. "They gave us some of our earliest reviews and shoutouts. They were one of the first bigger platforms that let people know about our shows."
Pugliese says the "NoDa takeover" will be from noon to midnight and will include additional music acts at Canvas Tattoo, The Evening Muse, Sanctuary, and Jack Beagle’s.
