Blankfest Calgary Raises Over 200 Winter Clothing Items and Nearly $1,000 In Proceeds |

Blankfest Calgary Raises Over 200 Winter Clothing Items and Nearly $1,000 In Proceeds

“The second annual Blankfest Calgary raises a final count of $940.00 in cash, 100 blankets and 125 coats! for those in need.”

Blankfest Calgary, has done it again, with a full-to-capacity event at Blind Beggar’s Pub this past Saturday on November 5th, the charity raised nearly $1,000 and over 200 winter clothing items for the cities homeless and shelter, The Mustard Seed, a non-profit organization that has been caring for the needs of the less fortunate since 1984 through its three centres across Alberta and delivers basic services such as housing and employment programs to those in need while partnering with the community to address the root causes of poverty.

Organizer of Blankfest Calgary and tour booker at local SIN Agency commented on the success of the event.

“We are really happy to say that this year’s Blank-Fest Calgary was amazing! It was successful in so many ways; the support we got from local media to help bring attention to the homeless and the event, our sponsors (Blind Beggar Pub, Schwappy.com, Asher Media Relations, Fadeback Studios United, Raelyn Ross Photography), along with the bands who performed and donated their time, to their fans who helped raise funds and winter clothing and made the night great on all levels. Our team was extremely happy with the results and I like to say thank you to everyone involved.”

Taking place from 2pm to 2am, 12 rock and metal bands from across the province offered their musical support to help raise awareness, funds and blankets for the homeless and are listed as follows.

Matt Blais (Acoustic) – Calgary, AB – https://www.facebook.com/mattblaismusic
Jung People (Progressive Instrumental Rock) – Calgary, AB – https://www.facebook.com/jungpeople
Mammoth Grove (Rock/Blues) – Calgary, AB – https://www.facebook.com/mammothgrove
Atacama Republic (Rock) – Calgary, AB – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atacama-Republic/103289433057261
Dreams of Reason (Rock) – Calgary, AB – https://www.facebook.com/dreamsofreason
Bloom (Reggae/ Rock) – Calgary, AB – https://www.facebook.com/bloomband
Stone Iris (Rock/Blues/Reggae) – Edmonton, AB – https://www.facebook.com/stoneiris
Open Air (Rock) – Calgary, AB – https://www.facebook.com/openairrock
Dusty Tucker (Southern Rock) – Red Deer, AB – https://www.facebook.com/DustyTuckerBand
All Else Fails (Metal) – Edmonton, AB – https://www.facebook.com/AllElseFailsCanada
Leave the Living (Metal) – Red Deer, AB – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leave-the-Living/230527546989411
Before The Storm (Metal) – Calgary, AB – https://www.facebook.com/BTSMUSIC

A FREE Download compilation is still being offered – Blank-Fest Calgary II – Comp – Vol2 at the following link – http://blankfest.bandcamp.com/album/blank-fest-calgary-ii-comp-vol2-its-about-the-homeless-nothing-more-nothing-less

About Blankfest:

BlankFest Documentary 1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_nZr7wZhjc

Blankfest Documentary II – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUy2Oms2Cw

BlankFest Documentary III – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QNKJIPP21Y

Blank-Fest is an annual benefit concert, usually held one-to-two weeks before Christmas, which raises blankets for the homeless. It was founded in 1997 in Nyack, NY (a suburb approximately 20 miles outside of New York City) by Kenn Rowell who is the frontman for the NYC-based band, The Baghdaddios.

Over the years Blank-Fest has collected over 5,900 total donations for the homeless. With the exception of one year (2001) donations in every year has increased. Much of this growth can be attributed to increased exposure through local radio, the internet and the press, including featured articles in the New York Daily News and mentions in the New York Post.^[1] In addition there have been satellite shows that have been formed in other states, cities and countries. So numerous have donations been in recent years that volunteers have had to split the distribution/delivery of blankets to the less fortunate on multiple nights, starting on Christmas Eve. Often excess donations are distributed to homeless shelters as well.

Efforts to duplicate the successes of the early Nyack shows proved elusive at best until New Jersey-based independent artist activist, Richard Kubicz read about Blank-Fest’s efforts in the Daily News and proposed a “sister show” at a local club in Garwood, NJ. The first Blank-Fest-NJ, promoted extensively through Kubicz’s D.I.Y. music website Let’s Rock America[1] was a resounding success, netting 200 blankets which were donated directly to a neighboring homeless shelter in Cranford and garnered notice in the Bergen County press in 2006. Last year’s second annual Jersey show produced similar results. Similarly, Blank-Fest UK [2] was founded in Nottingham, England after a local recording studio owner heard an interview with The Baghdaddios on the British Armed Forces Radio Network, BFBS Radio One during the group’s Summer 2007 tour of England. Upon hearing about both the American and UK efforts Ontario-based photographer Gaynor Fletcher approached Rowell regarding the formation of a Blank-Fest Canada show. Also, debuting in 2007, in Guelph, ON, the inauguaral Canadian event featured popular Canadian folk artist James Gordon and was covered extensively by the Canadian media ^[2], raising well over 100 blankets.

In addition to these shows former Baghdaddios bassist, John Sidoti joined forces with local internet radio personality Ron Purtee to develop the first-ever Blank-Fest Wisconsin, ^[3], also in 2007, in the Milwaukee-area suburb of Racine.

Currently, there are 8 Blank-Fest shows serving 7 major metropolitan areas in three countries. In addition to those mentioned previously, 2008 has seen the addition of three additional shows: Blank-Fest Florida, which is hosted in Northern Florida (Lake City, nearGainesville, FL) and Blank-Fest VA, which is hosted in Richmond, VA (see links below).

In addition, promoters in Bridgeport, CT as well as Ottawa, Canada have begun work for premiere Blank-Fest shows in December 2009. The first Blank-Fest Quebec (which was also the first “post-Holiday Season” Blank-Fest show) which took place on Saturday evening, February 21, 2009, garnered approximately 503 total donations ^[4].

Currently plans are in development to expand Blank-Fest even further. There has been talk of shows in Texas, Northeast Pennsylvania, Ohio and Atlanta, GA. Several additional popular artists have been approached regarding future such shows. Quoted in a newspaper interview in 2000, Rowell maintained that “as long as there is the issue of homelessness we will continue to have a Blank-Fest”, further adding that he wishes “we didn’t have to hold these shows” but that, until the situation dramatically improves, everyone involved understands that they really have no other choice.

– 30 –