This Sunday, February 9, the New Orleans Musicians Clinic will host a mobile blood drive at the in tandem with the benefit concert taking place just across the street at staple local music venue, d.b.a., the same afternoon from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.. The events have been organized to raise funds for upright bassist Doug Potter, who was beaten into a coma by two random men while exiting his regular Bourbon Street performance gig in the French Quarter on the night of Monday, January 20.
New Orleans musician Doug Potter
Though doctors have reported progress in recovery over the past week, Potter remains in a coma and is of course accruing vast medical expenses. According to police, the two young men that attacked Potter on the street, and who are visible on an outdoor security video, are believed to have been participating in an gang-type initiation practice. Suspects have been illustrated publicly, but no conclusive facts have yet been found, or at least not released.
More than a dozen New Orleans musicians and music community supporters have put together a benefit concert for Sunday afternoon at d.b.a. (618 Frenchmen Street) to assist the jazz musician featuring Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns, the Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, John Boutte, Miss Sophie Lee, Linnzi Zaorski, Showarama, Tim Robertson, Potter’s own All-Stars band and more. Admission is $10 and includes donated food from Commander’s Palace. All door proceeds will be donated to the Doug Potter Fund at Capital One Bank, which has been set up to collect donations for both his current medical bills and expected rehabilitation care. If you cannot attend the benefit concert, you may make a donation at any Capital One location or online here.
The New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC) will also host one of their mobile blood drives this Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. to raise local transfusion blood stock for victims in need like Potter, as well as awareness about donating blood and supporting the New Orleans music community with viable health care. The last mobile blood drive of this kind was hosted by the NOMC at the Frenchmen Street Arts Market in response to the 2013 Mother’s Day second line parade shooting victims’ needs, and was tremendously successful. For more information on donating blood, appointments and location, visit www.nomaf.org/blooddrive or call 504-415-3514.
- For more information on the blood drive, click here.
- For more information on the benefit concert, click here.
- For more information on the Doug Potter Care Fund, click here.
