1st Annual Blankfest Calgary Raises Nearly $1000 and 200 Blankets For The Homeless
“The first annual Blankfest blanketed the city of Calgary on November 5th to help those in need.”
Photo Credit: Jonathen MacDonald
On November 5th in Calgary, AB the music community came together for the city’s first annual Blankfest Calgary at the Blind Beggar Pub in support of the cities homeless and shelter The Mustard Seed.
Taking place from 2pm to 2am, twelve rock and metal bands from the Calgary, Edmonton and as far Vancouver, BC offered their musical support to help raise awareness, funds and blankets for the homeless. With a show full to capacity, the event raised exactly $964.55 and at last count 200 blankets with donations still being received after the event.
“I am overwhelmed at the success of our very first Blank-Fest Calgary. It is thanks to an incredible team that made this happen, so many people to thank, the list is very long! And I am so proud of the Indie Music community and their fans in Calgary for bringing it out, rocking it out and giving to those that are going to have an extremely long winter! You are all amazing! The night was so much more than we expected for our first year and we are already making plans for the 2nd Annual event!” commented Leanne Harrison organizer of Blankfest Calgary and tour booker at locally based SIN Agency.
All proceeds from Blankfest Calgary were donated to the cities 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 and partners with the community to address the root causes of poverty.
“Blank-Fest was nothing short of amazing! The support we received was tremendous. The community came together to donate over 200 items of warm clothing and blankets and close to $1000 was raised to help Calgarians in need. We are extremely grateful for community leaders like Leanne who see a need and step right up to address it.” commented Simone Brown of The Mustard Seed.
The band line up was as follows:
Grime House (Airdrie AB) – Hip Hop/ Metal – http://www.grimehouse.com/
Stella (Vancouver BC) – Alternative/ Metalcore – http://www.reverbnation.com/stellagrooves
All Else Fails (Edmonton AB) – Metalcore – http://www.allelsefails.ca/
Open Air – (Calgary, AB) – Hard Rock – http://www.weareopenair.com
Dreams of Reason (Calgary AB) – Alternative Rock – http://www.dreamsofreason.com/
Alkatine (Calgary AB) – Hard Rock – https://www.facebook.com/pages/ALKATINE/128843623746
King Dylan (Calgary AB) – Pop/ Hip Hop – http://kingdylan.com/
Jung People (Calgary AB) – Progressive – http://www.reverbnation.com/jungpeople
Bloom (Calgary AB) – Reggae/ Dub/ Blues – http://www.bloomdub.com/
Septembryo (Calgary AB) – Pop Alternative – http://www.septembryo.com/
Million Dollar Fix (Calgary AB) – Rock – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Million-Dollar-Fix/117569551591419
Same Monkey (Calgary AB) – Alternative
– https://www.facebook.com/pages/Same-Monkey/258550814168457
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, near Gainesville, 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.
UK Metal Radio Show “The Autopsy Report” is airing a special show this week from November 14th to the 20th devoted to their Canadian metal heads across the Atlantic pond.
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