The evening will get off to a mellow and melodious start with the gentle harmonies of Girlyman. Girlyman’s music is a mix of folk, pop, rock, and bluegrass, but the defining characteristic is their flawless three-part harmonies. They released their most recent CD, Joyful Sign, in April 2007. They have gotten rave reviews for their performances across the country, often opening for the Indigo Girls and touring with Dar Williams in 2005. In 2006 they were nominated for a GLADD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) award. 

The second set will bring a change of pace with the Latin rhythms of the Carrboro’s own Saludos Compay, led by Chilean Pablo Valencia. Seen frequently at events around the area, the Independent Weekly said Saludos’ music "ranges from classic Latin summertime suave to nighttime booty-shaking beats, with influences from Latin America, South America and the Caribbean. Their music takes shape in lively salsa, smoother bossa nova and grab-your-partner cumbia styles."

This will be Ipas’s fourth annual holiday concert. Ipas holds the concert each year to raise money for its efforts to reduce deaths and injuries from unsafe abortion, but more importantly, to educate the local community about unsafe abortion and the toll it takes on women around the world.  The World Health Organization estimates that 66,500 women die from unsafe abortions each year, and 5 million are injured. While most people are aware of the debates about abortion rights in the United States, few can picture what it would be like to live in El Salvador or Valencia’s native Chile, where abortion is illegal even in cases of rape or when needed to save a woman’s life. 

The bands performing at the concert support Ipas’s work. Erich Lieth of Saludos Compay said, "Reproductive health and rights are global issues. Our music originates in Latin America, but our outlook is global. Population densities, individual freedom, the environment – all of these issues are impacted by reproductive rights."

With offices in 14 countries, Ipas works around the globe to increase women’s reproductive rights and to save women’s lives in places where abortion is illegal or inaccessible. With local, national and global partners, Ipas works to ensure that women can obtain safe, respectful and comprehensive abortion care, including counseling and family-planning services. Ipas trains health-care providers to improve health services, promotes appropriate technologies and work with policymakers and advocates to improve health policies and practices.

You can support Ipas by sponsoring the concert with a tax deductible contribution. Click this link to make a donation.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the ArtsCenter at (919)929-2787 or online at The ArtsCenter website .