The Format presents Saturdays In The Park

I'm sure, just like us, most of you are sitting around confused, terrorized, outraged, and feeling a little helpless, while also trying to figure out more ways you can directly help and make a positive impact in your community and beyond.

We've decided to use our platform (us coming to your city and playing music) as a way to try and get people to come together and learn about all the ways they can be more directly involved in the positive change necessary to make this world a better place.

So for every Saturday on our upcoming spring tour we are going to host what we are tentatively calling “Saturdays In The Park” where we, with the help of some very socially conscious and knowledgeable friends, bring a handful of local organizations to come set up booths where you can get information as well as meet some other like minded Format fans within your community.

Our goal is to kinda “MC” the event — hang around, meet people, and play a bunch of acoustic songs (there are many b-sides and rarities we haven't gotten to as a full live band yet…) in between local community organizers giving all of us information on all the many ways we can be helpful to those around us at this very crucial point in time.

We're currently inviting some friends to come and play with us, and there will be some of that extra stuff like a food drive, giveaways, raffles, and button making (ooooohhh!!!).

We really hope you can take a little bit of time out of your Saturday to come hang out, make some new friends, watch us play, and learn more about the ways we can all make a direct impact within our communities and beyond.

If you're like me, every time something horrific happens in this world, you're faced with an overwhelming urge to help… somehow.

I follow a lot of creative people online, and I'm always inspired by the art they create in times of trouble. I share their graphics. I buy the T-shirt benefiting the cause. I give money when and where I can. It's all so inspiring in the moment when people come together. You feel this sense of hope, as if maybe this time enough of us are connecting with what's really going on to bring meaningful change.

Nate and I were in the Seattle airport a few weeks back, getting steps in while we waited for a delayed flight to board. Our excitement over accomplishing something 20 years in the making was overshadowed by yet another horrific event. As we walked through the airport that day, the question came up: What more can we do?

It's hard to know where to start, but we do have to start somewhere. Actions, no matter how small, can accumulate over time and amount to something great. So, with that in mind, we've decided to take our first step — creating what we're calling “Saturdays In The Park,” which gives us an opportunity to create a space for people to gather, have discussions, hear a little music along the way, and hopefully leave with new information and inspiration to take additional steps in their own lives.

Most of us are inherently good. I really believe that. And when good people in communities get together in person to take action against something bad, there's a feeling there that can't be produced artificially. It's the soul of who we are. Harnessing that energy is the only chance we have to change course. It feels pretty heavy, but we have a responsibility to try harder.

See you in the park.