October 6th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Most musicians never go to galas unless they’re working for the caterer or off in the corner playing in the jazz combo. The Artists’ Other Gala is a one night musical celebration that puts a hand full of well known Toronto musicians, Justin Rutledge, Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson from The Skydiggers, Andrew Cash from the Cash Brothers, and Bill Prittle, formerly of Treble Charger, together with emerging singer songwriters Corrina Keeling, Colin Wray Crawford, Blake Preston and others to draw attention to both the success of arts funding of Canadian musicians and the importance of this support to the next generation of Canadian artists.
Date: Friday October 10, 2998
Location: The Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave (3 blocks west of Spadina)
(416 923-8137)
Admission: pay what you’d like—proceeds going to Sketch- Toronto Art Studio For Street Youth
Did Prime Minister Stephen Harper really mean to suggest that Canadians don’t care about the art that gets public grants? Oops. Check out the iPods of the nation. They’re chock a block with Canadian artists. Arts funding especially through FACTOR, the mainly federal government funded program that assists the work of Canadian music artists, has played a pivotal role in the unprecedented success Canadian musicians enjoy today both domestically and internationally..
The careers of many beloved Canadian artists, from Blue Rodeo, to Feist to Hawksley Workman as well as many acts performing at this event were nurtured by FACTOR grants. Indeed since its inception in 1982 through to 2007 the federal government invested $87 million in Canadian artists through the FACTOR program. Not a huge expenditure over 25 years but it’s come with a whopping pay back. FACTOR supported sound recordings have sold over 31 million copies worldwide generating retail sales in excess of $705 million.
Arts funding of music in Canada has paid off culturally and economically. Musicians live and work in every community in this country. Whether they are playing an open mic at the local pub or arenas around the world musicians play a unique role in the country’s cultural life—and, oh yeah, they generate a lot of economic activity too.
For further information contact Andrew Cash at ac@andrewcash.net or Jeff Davidson at falgarwood@hotmail.com
Posted in All Blog Posts, Andrew's Music, Canadian, General, Now Magazine, Politics | No Comments »
May 9th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Hey All
If you’re planning to come to the War Child benefit in Ottawa tonight, unfortunately I’ve had to cancel due to a family emergency. This rest of the show is, of course, going ahead and it is going to be a great one.
cheers
Posted in All Blog Posts, Andrew's Music, General | 1 Comment »
April 28th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Guns gotta go folks. It’s that simple. I’m for an all out, global ban on the things (though I’m tempted to relax my stance slightly if they were permitted to be used in the service of protecting one’s garbage containers from scavenging and massively over sized raccoons). But whether you agree with me or not few can argue that if used as intended someone’s going to get hurt, likely seriously. Right? I think even Charlton Heston (RIP) would have agreed. But the bogus claim that guns simply protect the good guys from the bad dudes is underscored by the work of two very different groups for whom I am participating in benefit concerts this week and next.
This Thursday May 1 I’ll be at Mitzi’s Sister 1554 Queen West in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto as part of a fund raiser for Soul2Soul, a small inner city program that helps kids who have lost loved ones, often through gun violence, deal with their grief in creative ways. Unfortunately, as happens so often in under serviced areas of the city, the funding for this program is on the chopping block and the very committed group who run it are trying to save it. Good for them. It’s 25 bucks a ticket, Ghostwalk Creek plays at 8:30, I’ll be on at 9:30. Tickets can be had by calling 416.440.0290 ext.13 or you can try your luck at the door.
The following Friday, May 9 I’ll be playing a couple tunes as part of a fund raiser in Ottawa for War Child
This is a world wide org that helps children who are affected by war. According to their stats 1 in 10 soldiers worldwide is a child. Weapons manufacturers have obliged by making machine guns lighter so kids can carry them more easily. (Place expletive here). It’s shaping up to be quite an interesting, eclectic night of music; some classical, some folk and me. It’s at St. Joseph’s Church (151 Laurier ave. East at Cumberland). Show time is 7pm. 10 bucks in advance through maplemusic.com. Tickets are also available at the venue office. $15 at the door.
The event, co-hosted by Catherine Lathem (CTV Ottawa) will also feature the Stellae Boreales ensemble as well as Doreen Taylor-Claxton.
There will also be a silent auction (with an interesting mix of items donated by Sen. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, Ishmael Baeh, Elizabeth May, Max Keeping, and others); and a fair-trade/organic/gourmet intermission café (courtesy of Bridgehead, Culinary Conspiracy, The Table Vegetarian Restaurant, & others)
Posted in All Blog Posts, Andrew's Music, General, Youth Issues | No Comments »
