JAKARTA, DECEMBER 5, 2022 -- A total of 48 Indonesian musicians are preparing to collaborate in a charity concert entitled "Guitarists for the Country: Cianjur Earthquake Donation" at Bentara Budaya Jakarta in Palmerah, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/12/2022), at 19.00–22.00 WIB. This show was held to raise funds to help the victims of the Cianjur earthquake, in West Java.

"Almost all the musicians we contacted and didn't have a gig schedule were immediately willing to take part in concerts. The schedule of the musicians is busy and difficult, but when it comes to disasters and disasters, no one refuses," said Dewa Budjana, one of the guitarists and initiators of the charity concert, in a press conference at Bentara Budaya Jakarta (BBJ), Palmerah, Jakarta, Monday (5/12/2022).

Also present at the press conference were guitarist Endah Widiastuti, guitarist and painter Tommy 'Garux', General Manager of Bentara Budaya & Communication Management Kompas Gramedia Ilham Khoiri, and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Kompas Humanitarian Fund Foundation (DKK) Antonius Tommy Trinugroho. Also present were two curators of Bentara Budaya, namely Frans Sartono and Putu Fajar Arcana.

Endah Widiastuti said that the 48 musicians consisted of 36 guitarists, 4 accompanying musicians, and 8 singers. From guitarists, among others, Denny Chasmala, Endah Widiastuti, Ridho Hafiedz, Dewa Budjana, Kongko Cadillac, Gugun, Ramadhisa Akbar "Nidji", Tohpati, Ian Antono, Edi Kemput, Jubing Kristianto, Josephine Alexandra, Andre Dinuth, Gerald Situmorang, Iga Massardi, Sonny J-Rock, Ezra Simanjuntak, Rully Worotikan, John Paul Ivan, Utox, Zendhy Kusuma, Randee, Nikita Dompas, Boris Simanjuntak, Adit "Element", Noldy, Karis, Agam Hamzah,  Baim, Tommy "Garux". There will also be singers Tompi, Ipang Lazuardi, Andi/rif, Rian d'Masiv, Uap Widya, Sheryl Sheinafia, Bella Fawzi, Pieter Anroputra, Ubay "Nidji", Candil, Kaka, Cokelat, Yandi Andaputra, Aryo Wicaksono, Franky Sadikin, Wanda Omar, Donny Joesran, and Yongky Vincent.  

"It's all full collaborative performances, no band or singer performing individually," Endah said. According to Frans Sartono, at the concert, each musician with a different character can perform in one performance uniting flavors through 6 to 7 performances.

Putu Fajar Arcana added that outside of guitarists and musicians, there will be donations through artworks, namely guitars and paintings. There is also a performance of poetry reading. "This is the best opportunity to show that art has a very intimate connectivity with society," he said.

The artworks that will be donated include a guitar from Ridho Hafiedz's collection, as well as a Yamaha brand guitar signed by a performing musician. Meanwhile, the paintings to be donated are works by Tommy "Garux" and works by other painters.

Until the 13th day after the earthquake, Saturday (3/12/2022), 334 people died and 8 people were missing. According to data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the number of earthquake refugees in Cianjur, West Java, reached 73,874 people in 325 evacuation points. Some of them experience symptoms of respiratory infections (ARI), cough, flu, and diarrhea. They need shelter, groceries, clothing, as well as medicine.

Not only residential houses, but the earthquake also damaged roads, houses of worship, markets, and schools. Based on data from the Education, Youth and Sports Office of Cianjur Regency, as many as 422 building units with 1,653 children's, primary, middle, and upper educational institution rooms in the area were severely or lightly damaged.

"Cianjur is still responding to emergencies, we support at some point. We help with basic needs such as public kitchen logistics, maybe we also want to build schools that collapsed due to disasters," said Tommy Trinugroho.

GM Bentara Budaya & Communication Management Kompas Gramedia Ilham Khoiri expressed appreciation to all musicians, guitarists, painters, DKK, and donors. "This is the fourth organizing concert of 'Guitarists for the Country. Previously, it has been held three times and aims to raise donations for residents affected by disasters at that time, namely in 2010, 2014, and 2018," he said.

The charity concert "Guitarist for Indonesia" which has been held before in response to the disaster that has a major impact on the people of this country, namely Guitarist for Country #1 "From Guitarist to Indonesia" (4/11/2010), funds were distributed to victims of the natural disasters of Mount Merapi, Mentawai, and others; Guitarist for the Country #2 "From Guitarist to Indonesia" (12/2/2014), funds were distributed to victims of the Mount Sinabung eruption, Jakarta floods, and Manado floods; Guitarist for the Country #3 "Gitaris Indonesia Peduli Negeri" (11/10/2018), funds were distributed to victims of the earthquake disaster in Palu. Through this charity concert, Kompas Gramedia wants to be a forum for the participation of various elements, both artists, entrepreneurs, and the general public in sharing kindness for others. 

The public can watch this concert by attending live at Bentara Budaya Jakarta or through live streaming broadcasts on the Kompas, Bentara Budaya, and KompasTV Daily YouTube accounts. During the concert, the public can distribute donations at the venue or via bank transfer to the account of Yayasan Dana Kemanusiaan Kompas (DKK), namely BCA Gadjah Mada Branch, Jakarta, account number 012.302143.3 a.n. Yayasan Dana Kemanusiaan Kompas. Not only that, but the public can also make donations by buying special T-shirts with the design "Guitarist for Indonesia" which are sold at concerts or through pre-orders at 0811 9931 342 (Ghina Aulia). (*)

For further information, please contact:

Ilham Khoiri, GM Communication Management and Bentara Budaya Kompas Gramedia

Mobile: +62811833492