A group of students and grads from Parkland Secondary are organizing a benefit concert for cancer research this month.
On Friday, May 10 the LEAF/MUSE social justice club from Parkland will present six local bands at the Charlie White Theatre, including three which include members from the school.
“For us, we really wanted to do something to support local talent and youth as well as do something for an important cause,” explained Bryanne Geary, a Grade 12 Parkland student and one of the event organizers.
With support from Parkland Youth and Family councillor Roger Young, the students were able to organize the six band event at the Winspear Centre with both the Centre and Constable Ravi Gunasinghe of the Sidney North Saanich RCMP coming on board to help out with costs and organization of the event.
“We’re really excited to be able to showcase some of the great talent we have locally as well as provide a all-ages oriented event in Sidney,” said Young.
“We’re hoping that people will come out from Saanich and Victoria to hear what these bands have been working on. They’ve been working really hard and I think each band individually will bring something great to the stage.”
The concert will feature six bands: National Tape, Helloseptember, Slow Zodiacs, Lohlaya, Pookati and Loftus.
Slow Zodiacs, a band made up of two current Parkland students (Grey Oxley and Ross Haskett) and a Parkland graduate (Sebastian Craig), are looking forward to showcasing some of the local talent from the Peninsula.
“Most of us have been playing in bands since middle school so we’re looking forward to getting our music out there,” said Oxley.
After playing a couple of gigs at the Cambie in Esquimalt, the benefit concert at the Winspear will be the band’s first larger show.
“It’s going to be a great event,” said Young, adding that the show happens the same night as the midway at the Winspear.
“We’re hoping some of the youth will come out after they’ve been at the midway to enjoy some music,” he said.
Tickets for the benefit concert are $10 and are available through the Mary Winspear box office at 250-656-0275 or by visiting www.marywinspear.ca.