THE CRYING SPELL, FACELESS Added To LAYNE STALEY Eighth Annual Tribute & Benefit Concert

THE CRYING SPELL and FACELESS have been confirmed for the eighth annual Layne Staley Tribute & Benefit Concert, set to take place on August 22, 2009 at Showbox Market in Seattle Washington. The event will be headlined by a solo acoustic performance by Eddie Kowalczyk, widely known as the lead singer/guitarist of the band LIVE, one of the most successful and enduring alternative rock bands of the past 15 years.

THE CRYING SPELL is comprised of Seattle bands SECOND COMING and POINT ONE. Bandmembers include Len Hotrum (vocals),Eric Snyder (guitar),Yianni "Johnny" Bacolas (bass) and Chase Culp (drums).

Bacolas' and Layne's friendship dates back to their teenage years as bandmembers together in an early incarnation of ALICE IN CHAINS.

"I am honored to be a part of this tribute for many personal reasons. I look forward to introducing the new band I'm in, THE CRYING SPELL, this year, and to being a part of such an important event," says Bacolas.

"Staley's craft and tragedy has always been a huge part of why there is a whole community of Seattle musicians that help each other, love one another, and work together as a family," says FACELESS vocalist Alisa Rose. "Layne Staley Fund is reaching out and compelling the world to be part of the family, to give the lives back to those who are lost to the same heartbreaking shadows. I am proud to say that I am family."

The event will also feature many special touches that uniquely honor Layne and his fans, including a special performance by Nancy McCallum, Layne's mother.

Every year in mid-August, Layne Staley Fund celebrates Layne's birthday by putting on its annual tribute and benefit concert. The tribute team takes extra care to create a close, personal experience that shares its love of Layne and its message of hope to everyone by having special guests and surprises throughout the evening.

Raffles, a silent auction, and the merchandise booth debut the official Layne Staley Fund tribute poster, t-shirt and calendar designed especially for the tribute year.

Proceeds from the tribute, merchandise sales, raffles, and donations go toward funding heroin recovery in the Seattle music community.

On what would have been his 42nd birthday, Layne Staley's family, friends and fans will come together to celebrate the life of the former ALICE IN CHAINS lead singer, who died of heroin addiction in 2002.

The mission of Layne Staley Fund is to provide hope, awareness, education, support and treatment funds for heroin recovery in the Seattle music community.

Proceeds raised at each year's tribute are donated to Therapeutic Health Services, Seattle, Layne Staley Memorial Fund, an endowment which now stands at $85,000.

For more information, go to this location.