Dave McCann and friends are quick off the mark, setting up a flood relief benefit at CASA, Thursday, June 27.
Numerous local musicians including Shaela Miller, Karen Romanchuk, John Wort Hannam, Curt Young and Jamie Medicine Crane, Rancho Deluxe, Paul Kype and Texas Flood, Steve Foord and Dave McCann will be performing at CASA, from 5-9 p.m.
“It’s a last minute thing that came together,” said McCann who almost got stuck in the flood.
“ I had a gig in Saskatoon and drove through Calgary on Friday night. I thought I should get out. I dropped off a friend in the Bowness. He got hit hard by it,” he said.
“The river rose fast and I was wondering how to get through it. I got to High River and I was going to go through Gleichen, but I think that got flooded too, but the overpass was still open so I cut though Vulcan. It was overwhelming and amazing,” he described.
The experience got him thinking about what he could do.
“ We started talking about it on Sunday night. We were wondering if we could pull it together in a week. But everything came through. The musicians didn’t bat an eye when I asked them. They’re all local so that was easy and CASA came through with the venue, Sonic came through with the sound and the sponsors came through too,” he said.
“ We’re lucky. Lethbridge escaped relatively unscathed. We’re lucky we’re above the flood plain.
He said the goal of the event is to raise a lot of cash for the Red Cross.
“It really is a community event. The music is just something we can contribute to it,” he said.
“ We play all of those communities,” he continued.
Having the event early and on a Thursday was a deliberate choice so families can stop by and donate or just listen to some music.
“ I’ve got gigs coming up and weekends aren’t any good. And we didn’t want to compete with anybody,” he said.
The benefit begins at 4:30 p.m. when the doors open. The music begins at 5 p.m
It is a non-ticketed event, however McCann suggested a $10 minimum donation to be put in the Red Cross boxes on location.
