Glen Burtnik's 12th Annual Xmas Xtravaganza Set For December 7th At B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City

Artists' proceeds from this annual holiday concert benefit New York and New Jersey area food banks. Audience members are encouraged to bring canned food, warm clothing, and new (unwrapped) toys for those less fortunate. An incredible night of music for a great cause!

For immediate release:

GLEN BURTNIK'S 12TH ANNUAL XMAS XTRAVAGANZA SET FOR DECEMBER 7TH AT B.B. KING BLUES CLUB & GRILL IN NEW YORK CITY

NEW YORK, NY (November 13, 2002) - What do you get when you gather over thirty talented musicians in one place, put them on a stage to perform songs, collect bundles of warm clothing, new toys and canned food for the needy, and donate the artists proceeds to area food banks? Answer: Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza, celebratring twelve years of crazy, magical, fun-for-the-whole-family entertainment this year on Saturday December 7th, at BB King Blues Club and Grill, at Times Square in New York City.

Glen's annual holiday show has grown larger each year, evolving into a New York-New Jersey area tradition not to be missed. It features a colorful cast of characters which changes from year to year, but has included such luminaries as Patty Smyth, John McEnroe, Phoebe Snow, Marshall Crenshaw, The Patti Smith Band, Fred Schneider (B-52's), Jeffrey Gaines, Freedy Johnston, Dan Bern, John Waite, Curtis Stigers, STYX, Mary Lee Kortes, and Willie Nile, among others. Shows have been sold out for the past three years running.

"It's a celebration of the music of the season," says Burtnik, "which I've always found a magically effective genre. Once I realized it was a worthwhile undertaking, I decided it'd be most appropriate to the spirit of the show to give the profit to people in need. Each year, I've sent the do-re-mi to two NY/NJ area food banks, which effectively distribute food to the poor in the area. A lotta people need help in this world, and when I began the show, the focus was on distant countries (Band Aid, We Are The World). But I also know there are political complications - I once read a convincing article suggesting much of the food sent as a result of Live Aid ended up rotting in warehouses due to the politics of the region. Hence, I chose to go with the old addage 'Charity Begins At Home', in hopes of helping people near where I live."

"I take the overall show as a great compliment," continues Burtnik. "That all these amazing artists, assistants and technicians donate time for no pay so I can raise some money for local charities. This is a blessing I do not take lightly. That the audience brings so many giant Hefty bags full of canned food, warm clothes and toys so my family and I can distribute them to soup kitchens and family shelters - simply because I ASK, is a gesture which causes me to tear up."

For more information on the colorful history of this incredible show, please visit www.XmasXtravaganza.org

Glen Burtnik's 12th Annual Xmas Xtravaganza
Saturday, December 7th
Two shows: 8pm & 10:30pm
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42nd Street
New York, NY
212-997-4144
Tickets $25

To purchase tickets online, visit www.BBKingBlues.com. Phone orders can be made through Ticketmaster 212-307-7171. Service-charge-free tickets can be purchased at the club's box office daily 10am-midnight.

For more information or to arrange an interview with Glen Burtnik, please contact:
Kathy Wagner
Panzyler Entertainment Group
45 East City Line Avenue #460
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Tel: 609-634-5998
Fax: 856-482-9198
kwagner@panzyler.com
www.panzyler.com

###