Concert at CSPS Hall to benefit Nepal quake victims

Suresh Basnet is helping organize a fundraiser this weekend to benefit those affected by a devastating earthquake in his native country.

'A Concert for Nepal” starts at 8 p.m. Saturday at CSPS Hall, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids, and will feature classical music, dance, poetry and Tibetan singing bowls. Performers include singer-songwriter Pieta Brown, performance artist Jeffrey Boyd, actor-singer Lincoln Ginsberg, composer Robert Lindsey-Nassif, pianist Tony Nickle, poet Awki Nji and visual artist Dilip Reshmi. After the performances, there will be a reception with Nepalese food and beverages.

Basnet is a Cedar Rapids man who is originally from Nepal.

Earlier this month, Basnet kicked off a campaign with a goal of raising $30,000 for earthquake victims in Nepal. Saturday's concert will be the conclusion of that campaign.

The earthquakes that struck Nepal on April 25 and May 12 killed more than 8,800 people and injured 23,000.

'Typically in a disaster like that, people get a lot of resources in the beginning,” Basnet said. 'After a couple months, things actually get worse. People are very disoriented at this point; they feel very helpless.”

Basnet has spoken to friends and connections in Nepal who lack temporary shelter. Money raised at Saturday's concert will provide support to those without housing, food, water and other services, Basnet said.

Iowa for Nepal aids victims in remote areas of Nepal. Since mid-May, the organization has assisted more than 400 victims, according to a news release.

'We're expecting a unique experience,” Basnet said. 'We are collaborating both with local artists (and) some of them are internationally acclaimed. We're trying to give both the blend of Cedar Rapids experience as well as Nepalese.”