Local kids put on show to garner school supplies for local kids
By Kyra Hoggan
A bunch of local kids between the ages of 13 and 15 are donating their time and musical talent to garner donations of money and school supplies for the Community Harvest Food Bank.
Food Bank manager Deb McIntosh said she’s impressed and touched by the efforts of students from Supercat Studios, who will be staging a memorial concert at the Genelle Community Hall Friday at 6 p.m.
“We usually help about 60 kids a year with quality school supplies – everything from binders and books to crayons and calculators,” McIntosh said, adding the kids are across the continuum between Kindergarten and Grade 12.
“If you are, or know, a family who needs supplies, call me at the Station Museum at 250-365-6440.”
Supercats owner/instructor Yanive Fenier said the show is one of a tri-city memorial concert effort to honour the memory of Lance McLaughlin, a dear friend of the studio. The first concert will be tonight in Dallas, Texas, the second tomorrow in Genelle, and the third in Toronto on Saturday.
Fenier said raising money for school supplies is no new theme for Supercats – previous concerts have benefitted the Kootenay Animal Assistance Program, the Food Bank, the Canadian Cancer Society, and more.
Called Rocking for the Fat Man, Friday’s concert will be opened by the band Play the Fool, after which vocalist Reiss Zibin will perform, followed by the headlining Supercats Rock Camp band Pirates and Cowboys.
“I’m really impressed at the amount they’ve learned and grown and harnessed their musical skills – and how they’ve developed together, as a band, over the two weeks of Rock Kamp,” Fenier said. “They’ve been rehearsing four hours a day.”
Cameron Low, 13, is lead guitarist for opening act Play The Fool, and he said he’s honoured to be able to donate his time for a worthy cause.
“Music can actually, literaly save lives,” he said.
Devon Hoggan is PTF’s lead vocalist (and also this reporter’s son), who said school supplies strike him as being especially important.
“I think it’s education above everything – without education, I wouldn’t be a good musician or lyric writer; I wouldn’t be able to do what I love,” he said. “I’m over-the-moon to play this show.”
Come check out the area’s budding musical talent by bringing a donation of school supplies or money to the Genelle Hall Friday. Gates open at 6 p.m., and the concert will start at roughly 6: 45 p.m., running just over two hours.
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