LOVE IS IN THE AIR
Durham musicians unite for fundraising CD, gala
Jan 20, 2010 - www.newsadvetiser.com
By Mike Ruta
OSHAWA -- Melanie Hartshorn-Walton has four cats that were her father's "finds.
"I call him St. Francis of Assisi because he used to bring in all the strays in the neighbourhood," says the Oshawa musician.
Her father died in April, roughly four months after the fire at the Humane Society of Durham Region that destroyed the Oshawa building and killed more than 100 animals there. Hartshorn-Walton says the tragedy "really affected him" and she shares both her father's love of animals and his distress at what happened that day.
After organizing two fundraising events for the society early last year, Hartshorn-Walton is making it three with Love Is In The Air, a Valentine's gala, dance and CD launch to benefit the society, featuring live music on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in Oshawa.
"A lot of people offered to come out and then it was just a matter of logistics," she says of the reaction she received when she sent out some feelers about the event. "Everybody on the CD responded and wanted to be in it."
The idea for the CD came from Hartshorn-Walton and Matt Fretz at Brooklin's Walkdown Sound. The disc features original music from Oshawa and Whitby musicians Geordie Mackay, Oceanic Air, Heather Luckhart, The Rolf Eikeland Band, John Davey, Stacey Green and Melanie E. All but Luckhart, who had a previous commitment, are playing the gala.
"There's everything from acoustic, bare-bonesy folk stuff all the way to a full band," she says. "I'm the only odd-man out in that my music is French jazz."
All who attend the event receive a free copy of the CD, Phoenix Rising. After the launch it will be available at Wilson and Lee Music in Oshawa and through www.fundraisingconcerts.com. All CD sales will be donated to the Humane Society of Durham Region.
The gala features a wine-and-cheese reception and dance, prizes and a silent auction of material donated by artists in the community, including visual artwork. Each musician will play two or three tracks before The Rolf Eikeland Band takes the stage until the end of the night.
Hartshorn-Walton says everything but the manufacturing of the CD was donated to help with the fundraiser, including the studio time at Walkdown Sound and 420 Wing in Oshawa for Love Is In The Air.
Tickets are $30 per person, $50 per couple and available at www.fundraisingconcerts.com.
For more information about the gala and to reserve seats, contact Hartshorn-Walton at info@melaniee.com or 905-242-4853.
420 Wing is at 1000 Stevenson Rd. N., the southfield of Oshawa airport.
Jan 20, 2010 - www.newsadvetiser.com
By Mike Ruta
OSHAWA -- Melanie Hartshorn-Walton has four cats that were her father's "finds.
"I call him St. Francis of Assisi because he used to bring in all the strays in the neighbourhood," says the Oshawa musician.
Her father died in April, roughly four months after the fire at the Humane Society of Durham Region that destroyed the Oshawa building and killed more than 100 animals there. Hartshorn-Walton says the tragedy "really affected him" and she shares both her father's love of animals and his distress at what happened that day.
After organizing two fundraising events for the society early last year, Hartshorn-Walton is making it three with Love Is In The Air, a Valentine's gala, dance and CD launch to benefit the society, featuring live music on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in Oshawa.
"A lot of people offered to come out and then it was just a matter of logistics," she says of the reaction she received when she sent out some feelers about the event. "Everybody on the CD responded and wanted to be in it."
The idea for the CD came from Hartshorn-Walton and Matt Fretz at Brooklin's Walkdown Sound. The disc features original music from Oshawa and Whitby musicians Geordie Mackay, Oceanic Air, Heather Luckhart, The Rolf Eikeland Band, John Davey, Stacey Green and Melanie E. All but Luckhart, who had a previous commitment, are playing the gala.
"There's everything from acoustic, bare-bonesy folk stuff all the way to a full band," she says. "I'm the only odd-man out in that my music is French jazz."
All who attend the event receive a free copy of the CD, Phoenix Rising. After the launch it will be available at Wilson and Lee Music in Oshawa and through www.fundraisingconcerts.com. All CD sales will be donated to the Humane Society of Durham Region.
The gala features a wine-and-cheese reception and dance, prizes and a silent auction of material donated by artists in the community, including visual artwork. Each musician will play two or three tracks before The Rolf Eikeland Band takes the stage until the end of the night.
Hartshorn-Walton says everything but the manufacturing of the CD was donated to help with the fundraiser, including the studio time at Walkdown Sound and 420 Wing in Oshawa for Love Is In The Air.
Tickets are $30 per person, $50 per couple and available at www.fundraisingconcerts.com.
For more information about the gala and to reserve seats, contact Hartshorn-Walton at info@melaniee.com or 905-242-4853.
420 Wing is at 1000 Stevenson Rd. N., the southfield of Oshawa airport.
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