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MusicFest to raise funds for athletes |
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Written by Dale Woodard
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Saturday, 04 July 2009 |
Help some local athletes in their Olympic pursuit and tap your toes to some music.
Those attending the first Olympic Athletes MusicFest July 13 will get the chance to do both when the event takes the stage.
In a joint effort with the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame and the Kinsmen Club of Lethbridge, a bevy of bands will plug and rock out in a fundraiser to aid former University of Lethbridge Pronghorn athletes Jim Steacy and Carla Pavan achieve their Olympic goal in the hammer throw and skeleton racing, respectively.
“It’s a music festival on a small scale. We’ve got three local acts and two touring acts,” said organizer Mike Spencer of the event, which will take place at W.T. Hill Boulevard South, located immediately south of the Nissan dealership and across the street from the Sun Life Call centre. “We’ll have the live music and we’ll have food and beverages and merchandise tables (as well as) sports and music information. It’s just to create a festival atmosphere. We’ve sold corporate banners to music and sports-related organizations as well We’re encouraging groups of friends to buy a block of 10 tickets for $250. It’s kind of a party within a party. That way they can show support for these athletes.”
The gates open at 5 p.m. with the music to follow at 6 p.m.
A total of 400 to 500 tickets are available for the festival, with local professional acts including Dave McCann and the Ten Toed Frogs, Washboard Hank, Shaela Miller, Karen Romanchuk & the Constant Remnants and Steve Keenan & Fat Baby Jake.
Food and drinks will be available all evening. The event is an all-ages show, with children aged 12-and-under admitted free if accompanied by an adult.
There will also be a tent village that will include merchandise from the musical acts plus select local merchants, along with information booths primarily related to sports and physical activity opportunities in the local area.
Competing in lesser-known events, raising the funds needed to pursue their Olympic goals can be a challenge for the likes of Steacy and Pavan.
“Unless they’re traveling with the national team they have to pay for the majority of their own meets and training. In Carla’s case, she’s purchasing her own sled as well, which is about $7,000,” said Spencer. “One thing that was pointed out to me was the Olympics tend to be kind of an elitist thing. But we’re zeroing on some athletes that are in sports that don’t receive a lot of notoriety. It’s very difficult to have a hammer thrower or a skeleton athlete as your poster boy for a big commercial entity. It’s the hockey players they want or, to some extent, the skier to get a little more profile.”
Money raised will be split three ways, a third to Steacy, a third to Pavan and a third to an endowment set up by the Sports Hall of Fame for other potential Olympians.
“This is a pretty small scale event because it’s the first time, but it’s a building block for something bigger down the road,” said Spencer.
Tickets for the inaugural MusicFest are $30 in advance or $35 after July 4. A package of 10 tickets is available for $250. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 403-320-5320 (Monday to Thursday, 1-3 p.m.) or contact Spencer at
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