Hamilton’s Heart for Haiti

[SteelTown]

Feist headlines Hamilton concert for Haiti

January 18, 2010
By Graham Rockingham
Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/707279

Feist, the Arkells, Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will perform at an all-star concert at Hamilton Place Jan. 31 to raise funds for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Other confirmed artists for the Hamilton’s Heart for Haiti concert include Lee Harvey Osmond, Melissa McClelland, Luke Doucet and Jacob Moon.

Concert producer Glen Marshall, co-owner of Hamilton’s Vibewrangler Recording Studio, said he is negotiating with several other acts. He hopes to make additional announcements regarding the line up closer to the show, which is being co-sponsored by The Hamilton Spectator.

“We’ve been working on it for just over 72 hours,” Marshall said yesterday. “There’s a time to call in your favours and, to me, this was the time. The need is so great.”

Marshall said he received confirmation from Feist — a multiple Juno winner and Grammy nominee for her hit song 1 2 3 4 — a day after e-mailing the Toronto singer-songwriter.

“Feist wants to invite some friends of hers, as well,” Marshall said.

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings — featuring Tom Wilson, Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing — happened to be working together in the area, finishing work on their next CD, when Marshall called them.

“There’s a lot of synchronicity happening here,” he said.

Tickets for the 2,000-seat event are $25 and will be available later this week through Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.ca or 905-527-7666) and the Copps Coliseum box office.

Proceeds will be distributed to three Haiti relief efforts: Canadian Friends of Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Joy and Hope of Haiti and International Child Care.

[SteelTown]

Finger Eleven headlining ‘Hamilton For Haiti’
Spate of local music fundraisers in the works

January 19, 2010
Graham Rockingham
Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/707955

Internationally famous rock band Finger 11 will perform a benefit concert for Haiti in the Studio Theatre at Hamilton Place on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Also on the lineup will be Hamilton blues guitarist Steve Strongman, Juno-winning rocker Tomi Swick, local urban reggae band Dodger, the Kevin MacLean Band and Finger 11 offshoot Blackie Jackett Jr.

The fundraising concert is being produced by Kevin MacLean and Finger 11 drummer Rich Beddoe.

“Finger Eleven did a benefit for tsunami relief a few years back, so they want to do something for Haiti in the same way,” said MacLean. “It’ll be an intimate rock show, sort of like a stag and doe. We’re calling it Hamilton For Haiti.”

Tickets for the show are $30, available later this week at the Copps Coliseum box office or through Ticketmaster (905-526-7666 or ticketmaster.ca). All proceeds will go towards Haiti earthquake relief. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Finger 11 — a band that started in Burlington and went on to score worldwide success with the hits Paralyzer and One Thing — are working in a New York City studio, recording their next album.

The concert is one of several local shows being organized for earthquake relief.

– On Sunday, Jan. 31, an all-star benefit featuring Feist, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Brian Melo and many other artists is being planned for Hamilton Place’s Great Hall. Tickets are $25 and the event is co-sponsored by The Hamilton Spectator.

– A smaller benefit — Hamilton Helps Haiti is also taking place Jan. 30, at the Sky Dragon Centre, 27 King William St., featuring Christopher Clause, Mike Trebilcock, Steve Sinnicks, Ray Materick, Alfie Smith and Kelly Grrrl. That show starts at 2:30 p.m. and continues til closing.

— A marathon show — From Hamilton to Haiti — is also being organized at the Crown Plaza Lincoln Alexander Centre (150 King St. E.) for the weekend of Jan. 23 and 24, with local musicians performing from noon each day and through the evening. Ticket price is $10.

— As well, a benefit show is being held at the Afro-Canadian Caribbean Association Community Centre (754 Barton St. E.) on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., with suggested donation of $10.

[SteelTown]

http://www.hamiltonearthquakerelief.ca

[SteelTown]

Haiti Media Telethon for St. Joe’s projects airing next Tuesday

January 20, 2010
Danielle Wong
Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/708591

A Haiti Media Telethon will air on local media outlets next Tuesday to raise funds for two hospitals that St. Joseph’s Health System is affiliated with in the devastated country, community partners announced this afternoon.

Coverage of the telethon, which will start 6 a.m. and wrap up at 10 p.m., will air on CHCH, Cable 14 and AM 900 CHML. A live broadcast of musical performances and local stories will air on Cable 14 at 4 p.m. and repeat at 7 p.m. The event will feature local artists and the stories of those affected by the quake.

The University Hospital in Port-au-Prince was demolished in the quake while St. Joseph’s second partner hospital, Hôpital Universitaire de la Paix, is standing but lacks supplies to treat the flood of patients.

Three of St. Joseph’s medical staff landed in Haiti this morning. They will be assessing the situation before a team of broader medical staff is sent, St. Joseph’s Health System’s president and CEO said at a media conference this afternoon.

Dr. Kevin Smith emphasized that their work in Haiti would have a durable vision.

“This won’t be an in-and-out. This won’t be a quick fix that makes us feel better,” he said. “St. Joe’s is fully in this for the long term.”