This weekend, Cloverdale welcomes one of the biggest musical events of the year: Gone Country – Here for the Cure. The fourth annual event is a fundraiser organized by brothers Chris and Jamie Ruscheinski of Twins Cancer Fundraising.
The July 23 concert runs from 2 to 11 p.m. at the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre. This year’s lineup features several Langley talents, including Aaron Pritchett (formerly of Langley), who recently opened for Garth Brooks and has earned several Juno and Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) nominations; Karen Lee Batten, who was a top 10 finalist on Canadian Idol and a three-time winner of the BC Country Music Association’s (BCCMA) Female Vocalist of the Year; and Robyn and Ryleigh, two Brookswood sisters who were recently signed to Royalty Records (Sony Music Canada).
Also headlining are High Valley, a country music duo from Alberta made up of brothers Brad and Curtis Rempel, who have earned 10 GMA Canada Covenant Awards, multiple CCMA Award and Juno Award nominations and the 2013 CCMA Award for Interactive Artist of the Year; Bucko and Toad, a married country duo from Victoria; Chris Buck Band, winners of the BCCMA 2014 Country Club Act of the Year; and DJ Jaxon Hawks of JRFM.
The event is ages 19 and up.
This year’s fundraising target is $300,000, with proceeds going to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Vancouver.
The Ruscheinskis began their campaign to fight cancer after their mother passed away, followed by the loss of their close friend Shaun Gauthier to cancer five years ago. To date, the Twins have raised over $1.5 million for agencies such as the BC Cancer Foundation.
For tickets and more information on Gone Country, visit twinscancerfundraising.com.
