Aaron Hendra Lights Up Tomorrow at the House of Blues

Touch your mouse to the photo below to scroll through a gallery of photos from this event:

photos: Bob Manzano and Thomas Garza


The Aaron Hendra Project and fashion designer Abi Ferrin joined creative forces to present a benefit concert and fashion presentation on May 19th at the House of Blues Foundation Room. I met Aaron and his wife Tiffany through a mutual friend in December of 2013, right after they moved to Dallas from Los Angeles. Tiffany has become one of my besties (and was the subject of last week's Dallas Dweller feature) and had given me his latest CD, Octobersong, months ago - but I had never heard him play live until this evening. And what a treat it was! The Aaron Hendra Project is the musical odyssey of Australian born singer/songwriter Aaron Hendra and superstar drummer Gigi Gonaway who has performed with Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Steve Winwood.

Never let it be said I am not fun at a party...
Cynthia Smoot and Tiffany Hendra

The show gave attendees the opportunity to experience an intimate concert from Australia’s newest import to Dallas and view a live fashion presentation from the Abi Ferrin Collection. "The opportunity to combine my music with fashions by designer Abi Ferrin for a global cause was a dream come true,” said Aaron Hendra. “Working with Abi, who has a heart for similar causes, brought greater reach and added an element of glamour to the event. Funds raised from this "Light Up Tomorrow" event will be used to build state-of-the-art off grid solar farms in the various East African orphanages, schools and facilities built by our friend Sam Childers, the Machine Gun Preacher, through the Angels for East Africa organization."

With a message, voice and sound that is fresh yet authentic and heartfelt, guests like Heidi Dillon, Candy Smith, Shona Gilbert, Cary Dueber, Courtney Rider and Angela Choquette were enthralled with the band’s adult contemporary sound combined with the visual aspect of beautiful fashions of Abi Ferrin. “I was thrilled to present the newest Abi Ferrin creations at Aaron Hendra's concert. This collaboration meant so much because we can both use our gifts to raise money and awareness for the beautiful children in Peru and Africa that mean so much to Aaron and my team,” said Ferrin. Abi's charity choice was Niños Del Sol, a home for orphaned and abandoned children in the Sacred Valley, Cusco, Peru. The highlight of the night for me was having Aaron dedicate my favorite song, "Fire" to me. It's very exciting to get a shout out from the stage (See photo below)! You can learn more about The Aaron Hendra Project at www.AaronHendra.com or check out their CD on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/octobersong/id848829974.

My hair and makeup c/o La Bichette. 
Dress is from Hunter Bell at Haven Boutique in Uptown.