Exclusive: Mardi Gras donates sales to Light of Day

Buy "One Guitar," benefit Parkinson's Disease battle

In 2006, Mardi Gras released Drops Made, their first full-length album. The band toured extensively throughout Italy and Ireland, first as an acoustic duo, then as a full electric band. Now one of Italy’s premier live acts, and one of the most listened-to Italian acts on Myspace, the band has shared stages with Glen Hansard and the Frames, Billy Bragg, Noah and the Whale, Mundy, and Micah P. Hinson to name but a few, while also playing big festivals and independent showcases throughout Italy. Neil Young chose two Mardi Gras songs for a special section of his Website called “Songs of the Times,” featuring anti-war, peace and protest songs from artists all over the world.

Mardi Gras has released two more records (Among the Streams, recorded and mastered in Rome and Nashville, and Playground, recorded and mastered in Rome and Abbey Road), and the band played for the Light of Day Foundation in 2015, alongside E Streeters Jake Clemons, Vini Lopez and Eddie Manion, and have stayed in touch with the Foundation even since. The Light of Day Foundation raises funds and awareness to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

Their rendition of Willie Nile’s “One Guitar” is among Mardi Gras’ latest offerings, and they have dedicated all sales of this song to the Light of Day Foundation.

Mardi Gras member Fabrizio Fontanelli told Elmore, “We chose ‘One Guitar’ being a sort of anthem for the Foundation. Always a great song to hear it live, so it was a natural choice for us to release it as a benefit single.”

In its ongoing battle against Parkinson’s Disease, the Light of Day’s WinterFest 2019 features a holiday season European tour that kicked off November 29. Here in the US, LOD will bring over 150 music acts to 30 venues in two New Jersey cities, plus New York City, Philadelphia, and Rockland County, NY January 11-20,