1st Annual Blankfest Calgary – November 5 – It’s About The Homeless; Nothing More, Nothing Less
“The first annual Blankfest will be blanketing the city of Calgary on November 5th.”
Photo Credit : Steven Perreault – Cornershop studios
It’s about the homeless, nothing more, nothing less that is the simple message Blankfest Calgary presents in its first annual clothing fundraiser for Calgary’s homeless shelter The Mustard Seed on November 5th at Blind Beggar Pub.
The event, spearheaded by Leanne Harrison of SIN Agency, a national booking agency based in Calgary, is bringing together the local music scene for the great cause that will support those in need during Calgary’s below zero winter months and are exposed to dangers such as frostbite.
“Blank-Fest first came to my attention a couple of years ago via Jon Asher with his Montreal based project Blankfest Quebec. I knew right away that it was something I wanted to be a part of as its long been a passion of mine that a little understanding, knowledge and respect will go a long way to helping the homeless situation in our country and our cities. My partner and I are quite excited to have SIN Agency be a part of this awesome project and hope to see it grow. We are also really excited at the bands that are lining up to be a part of this event, and really proud to see that the musicians we are all about step up and show their compassion, respect and support for Blank-Fest and The Mustard Seed! On a personal level, I can’t think of a better legacy to leave behind than that Blank-Fest Calgary become a continuously growing annual event.” commented Blankfest Calgary organizer Leanne Harrison.
The Mustard Seed is a non-profit organization that has been caring for the needs of the less fortunate since 1984, through its three centres across Alberta, delivers basic services, housing and employment programs to those in need and partners with the community to address the root causes of poverty.
“We are really excited about Blankfest Calgary and are grateful that they have chosen to partner with us through this initiative. The support raised through this event will truly impact the lives of the men and women we serve and those blankets will go a long way in providing warmth on a cold winter night.” – Simone Brown, Corporate Relations Coordinator, The Mustard Seed.
For more info on The Mustard Seed please visit www.theseed.ca
Blank-fest Calgary – http://www.facebook.com/BlankFest.Calgary
For more information, contact event organizer Leanne Harrison at leanne@sinagency.ca – 403-863-5100
Event Details:
Tickets or reservations are not required. Simply bring one or more blankets to the event.
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2011
Time: 2 p.m. to 2 a.m
Venue: Blind Beggar Pub, 5211 Macleod Trail Southwest
Calgary, AB
Cost: Admission to the event is a donation of a blanket or winter clothing, or pay what you can monetary donation. All proceeds collected will be donated to The Mustard Seed.
Facebook Event (please share) – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=266382430068375
Band Line Up:
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/
Inside It Failed (Vancouver BC) – Alternative Hard Rock – http://www.insideitfailed.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.
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