NEWS

BY KAREN BLISS, www.samaritanmag.com

Cristina Scabbia, co-vocalist for Italian metal band Lacuna Coil, has a water well in her name in Kajiado area of Kenya from her contribution to Rezophonic, an ambitious collaborative album, whose proceeds go to the world renown African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF).

“Rezophonic is a musical project that involves more than a hundred artists from the underground, mainly the rock scene. Now it involves more people even from different scenes, even the very big Italian artists,” Scabbia tells Samaritanmag.com.

“I got a call from them the other day — because somebody else did a donation — and so far 122 wells have been built, which is amazing. Every well gives clear water to drink to 50 families so they don’t...

BY KAREN BLISS, www.samaritanmag.com

Charity was far from the minds of the ecstatic girls that comprised the majority of the 2750-capacity audience at Toronto’s Massey Hall last night (Dec. 21) for Justin Bieber’s rare theatre concert. They were just focused on the 17-year-old pop heartthrob, as he performed with his guitarist, Dan Kanter, for close to two hours.

All ticket proceeds from the special Christmas show, Justin Bieber: Home For The Holidays, which airs tonight on Canada's MuchMusic/CTV, went to his Believe Charity Drive — but even before those figures were calculated, the generous teen decided to round it up to an even half-a-mil.

BY KAREN BLISS, www.samaritanmag.com

Put on your short-shorts and get ready to boogie - that is if you wanna have some fun on the dance floor for a good cause. Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation (PMHF) has scored the inimitable Richard Simmons to lead its first ever Dance To Conquer Cancer fundraiser on February 12. That's in the afternoon, then in the evening, disco queen Gloria Gaynor will be the guest performer at the Boogie Nights fundraising dinner and dance.

"Our goal is to conquer cancer in our lifetime," PMHF president and CEO said in a statement. "We hope that our Dance to Conquer Cancer fundraiser will inspire those touched by cancer, while offering people a one-of-a-kind, engaging event using the elements of dance and disco! It's a great way to start off the New Year with some fitness and family fun and support for an important cause." 

Taking place at the Paramount Conference and Event Centre in Woodbridge, Ont., just north of the city, Disco Days participants will move and groove to music from the 1970s and 1980s from noon until 4 p.m.

Simmons will lead an estimated 500 registrants to "Sweat to the Oldies" with his style of dancersize, while So You Think You Can Dance Canada choreographer Blake McGrath will lead a dance workshop and teach two disco dances for everyone to perform together.

BY KAREN BLISS, www.samaritanmag.com

Sarah McLachlan and students from Vancouver’s Sarah McLachlan School of Music (SoM) are offering a free original Christmas song the kids wrote and recorded with the hopes that people, in turn, will give money, however small, to the school the Grammy-winning singer started for disadvantaged youth. McLachlan sings on the track.

“Space On The Couch For Two” was written spontaneously in between set-up time and a photo shoot the students were doing with McLachlan on November 22.

The multi-platinum singer-songwriter and Lilith Fair founder heard a bar of music that caught her attention and encouraged the students to turn it into a song. According to the press release, 17-year-old Freya Cirulis, who is studying songwriting, voice and guitar at the school, wrote the first verse on her arm with a black Sharpie marker and finished the verses later at home. The students from SoM wrote the music for it.

“Space on the Couch for Two” features McLachlan on lead vocals, with background vocals and instruments performed by students.

BY KAREN BLISS, www.samaritanmag.com

Two British Columbia rock bands — one unknown and unsigned; the other, one of the biggest in the world — have joined forces to bring attention to the story of a one-year-old girl battling cancer.

Chilliwack’s Pardon My Striptease put its song “Pray (For L.J)” for sale on iTunes to raise money on behalf of its singer’s daughter, Lilee-Jean Putt. The song rose up the iTunes rock chart, at one point reaching No. 1. Today, it sits at No. 2 behind Nickelback’s “When We Stand Together.”

Through the local media, Pardon My Striptease issued a challenge to Nickelback to match funds raised from the single. Nickelback accepted and surpassed expectations by donating $50,000 to the BC Children’s Hospital, according to the Universal Music Canada press release.

“We’re moved by the efforts of Pardon My Striptease to raise money for B.C. Children’s Hospital and are happy and excited to take part,” said Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger on behalf of the band.  “As such, Nickelback will be donating $50,000 to the BC Children’s Hospital and we invite both the Vancouver Province and the Vancouver Sun to each join with us and match our pledge.

BY KAREN BLISS, www.samaritanmag.com

Oh joy, oh glee.  The cast of the hit television show Glee has recorded its own version of Band Aid’s 1984 hit “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” with 100 percent of the net monies from its sale going to The Band Aid Trust (www.bandaid.org.uk). 

The song, which was co-written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in aid of famine relief in Ethiopia and Sudan, appears on Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2, as well as a separate single, available digitally.

The song is part of the Glee Christmas episode which airs tomorrow (December 13) at p.m. (ET).

The Band Aid Trust, a registered British charity since 1985, has raised in excess of $190 million through various international fundraisers, including the original British “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” — which included vocal contributions from more than 40 top artists at the time, such as Duran Duran, George Michael, Sting, Spandau Ballet and Culture Club — and a pair of Live Aid concerts on July 13, 1985 in London, England and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Trust has support countless projects designed to make a lasting difference in Ethiopia, Somalia and surrounding countries in East Africa:  building schools, hospitals and wells;  food security, sanitation, livelihood diversification and income generating activities, training for teachers, doctors and nurses, assistance for those living with HIV/AIDS, and more.

BY KAREN BLISS, www.samaritanmag.com

An impressive group of admirers, collaborators and friends are set to join “Rock Me Gently/Sugar Sugar” hitmaker Andy Kim for his 7^th annual Andy Kim Christmas Show, December 14 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.

Sam Roberts, Lights, Ron Sexsmith, Alex Lifeson from Rush, Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning from Broken Social Scene, James Black and Rick Jackett from Finger Eleven, Sarah Harmer, BUCK65, Emma-Lee, Honeymoon Suite, Dru and comedian Sean Cullen are all onboard.

This year, Kim has chosen Toronto’s Julliette’s Place (Homeward Family Shelter) to receive all the proceeds from the ticket sales. The centre is a refuge for women and their children who have left an abusive home life and require all kinds of services and assistance.  Often fleeing an abuser with little or no belongings, Julliette’s Place provides clothing, food, beds, toys — and safety.

Tickets for the show are $25 (inc. HST but plus service charges) and are available at all Ticketmaster, Rotate This, Soundscapes, online at ticketweb.ca or by calling 416-870-8000. The Phoenix is at 410 Sherbourne Street. Doors at 7 p.m.

During this one-of a kind charity event, concert-goers will be treated to a classic variety-style entertainment show that includes holiday performances and many collaborative moments, with the musicians joining each other onstage in the band or singing along.

BY KAREN BLISS, www.samaritanmag.com

Imagine an entire population wiped off the face of the earth, due to the spread of HIV/AIDS. That is the startling reality of Swaziland, Africa, the only developing nation in the world with a negative population growth. The United Nations estimates that without assistance, the country will cease to exist by 2050.

In 2006, the abandoned mining town of Bulembu in the northwest was purchased and put into trust with the Swazi charity Bulembu Ministries Swaziland (BMS) in order to help the estimated 120,000 orphans and vulnerable children of Swaziland and build a self-sustainable community — and hopefully ensure the future of the Swazi people.

Vancouver singer-guitarist John Mann of long-running folk-rock act Spirit of the West heard of the ambitious project and has visited the town twice with Vancouver-based Bulembu International. Tomorrow (November 29), the band will release ansprightly, upbeat original song, “Bulembu,” on iTunes, via Warner Music Canada. Proceeds will go to the Bulembu Child Care Program. (* Note: The iTunes link goes live at midnight tonight, eastern time).

“I initially traveled to Bulembu, Swaziland thinking there was something I would be able to do to help change the lives of the kids living there,” stated Mann for a press release issued by Warner Music. “In the end, I left realizing that their resilience and joy gave me so much more in return.  I love Bulembu, no ifs, ands, or buts.  This song is about a love affair with the town and its people, but mostly it’s for the kids.”