Arts & Entertainment

Singer Chris 'Breeze' Barczynksi Headlines 'heART of Mt. Helix' Event

"Breeze" is one of nine musical acts performing during the cultural festival on Saturday, Aug. 27.

Now in its fourth year, the culutural event is one of East County's most popular festivals. And the celebration of arts, music and food and wine at is only becoming more popular each year.

The event is the main fundraising event for the Mt. Helix Park Foundation. All funds raised from the event are used to preserve, miantain and enhance the park for future generations to enjoy.

Mount Helix Patch will break down the event, this year set for Aug. 27, in three preview articles, each profiling a different aspect of the event. Today, we will focus on the music.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The headliner for the evening is singer-songwriter Chris “Breeze” Barczynski. An award-winning recording artist, Barczynski has developed a loyal following across the country. He has opened for such acts as Green Day, Collective Soul, Hootie and the Blowfish, Matchbox 20, Blue Oyster Cult, and The Jerry Garcia Band among others.

He is based out of New York and hadn't heard of the "heART of Mt. Helix" event until he was contacted by Greg Hall, who is on the event committee. Barczynski had played at Hall's company event, and Hall thought he would be perfect for the annual celebration.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“He took me up to the top of Mt. Helix there, and showed me the place when I was out there, and I thought, ‘Wow, what a great place to play a show,’ ” said Barczynski.

"Breeze" as he is know, and his band, Citizens of Contrary Knowledge, have earned some success licensing their music to television shows such as The Tudors on Showtime, and Nickelodeon's Zooey 101 and Josh & Drake.

As a solo artist, Breeze was an adult singer semi-finalist on CBS’s Star Search with Arsenio Hall, and a cast member for two seasons of NBC’s The Singing Bee with Joey Fatone.

An independent artist, Breeze has a heart of local arts, having cut his teeth as an up-and-coming musician. He played trumpet and drums as a kid, but abandoned music in high school to play football. He moved on to play football for four years at Dayton University, but after his playing days ended, he found himself being drawn back into one of his first loves.

“That passion for music resurfaced and gave me the impetus to pursue it and do it at a level where I’ve been able to achieve quite a bit without a major record deal,” he said.

He said the heART of Mt. Helix event also reaches close to him due to its investment in local arts and culture.

"As a country, we’re starting to succumb to the fear, succumb to spirit of scarcity when we have so much," Breeze said. "And the first thing we start to cut is the arts and music. That's the wrong direction to go. Music is the one thing that can lift people out of that fear, that anxiety, that stress. I’ve seen it work; I’ve seen it inspire people. I’m not a rich guy, but I’m rich beyond belief because I get to do something that can make people smile."

Breeze will play with a different backup band, Brooklyn-based Red Light Cinema, on the main stage at the amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. and at 8:30-10 p.m.

In addition, there will be eight other musical acts performing throughout the duration of the evening. Also playing the main stage are local acts The Dixie Express Jazz Band, PM Crew, The Choice Entertainers, and Lenny Morris & TNT.

A full schedule is below:

MAIN STAGE

5:30 p.m.—The Dixie Express Jazz Band
dixieexpressjbsandiego.com

6 p.m.—The Choice Entertainers
choiceentertainers.com

6:30 p.m.—Lenny Morris & TNT
lennymorrismusic.com

7 p.m.—PM Crew
rubiosdancestudio.com www.crewjrcrew.com

7:30, 8:30-10 p.m. – Chris "Breeze" Barczynski and band
breezesings.com/fr_music.cfm

 

PERFORMING AT THE TOP

6 p.m.—Nicole Yantos, talented young singer.

6:30 p.m.—K&D Duo, guitarists Keven Ford and Devin Volta, from Grossmont College department.

 

PARKING LOT/SHUTTLE STOPS

5:30 p.m.—Roc P Sax Man, local saxophonist

6 p.m.—Virtual Strangers, local bluegrass band
virtualstrangersbluegrass.com.

For more information on the event, visit the website or call 619-741-4363.

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