In May, quintessential Canadian band The Tragically Hip let its fans know, through Facebook, that lead singer Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer.
The news came as a devastating blow to fans.
However, the band did not leave everyone wallowing in despair. Instead they announced that Downie would join his bandmates of more than 30 years for a summer tour.
That tour, named after The Hip’s newest and 14th studio album, Man Machine Poem, began in Victoria July 22 and is winding its way to The Hip’s hometown of Kingston, Ont. Aug. 20, where it will be broadcast live across the country by the CBC.
Like many fans, Vernon’s Trevor Perepolkin was unable to get tickets to The Hip’s western dates, in part due to robo-scalpers, so he decided to celebrate the tour another way.
He is hosting a public screening of the live-stream concert at the Vernon Curling Club.
“I was lamenting to my wife (Terri) about not being able to get tickets and the following day CBC announced that they were going to live-stream the Kingston show. She said: ‘Why don’t you put on an event at the curling club and show the concert?’” said Perepolkin. “From there, I just ran with it really.”
Perepolkin is a Hip fan in the true sense of the word. He has seen the band perform nine times. The last concert was in 2015 in Kelowna, where the band celebrated the 20th anniversary of its hugely successful album Fully Completely.
“The Hip are Canada’s band in many ways and Gord and his family having the courage – pun totally intended – to do another tour is just so Canadian,” he said.
Perepolkin is hoping to make the Vernon showing of the concert a large family-friendly celebration. All proceeds from donations made at the event will go towards Downie’s Sunnybrook Foundation and also to the North Okanagan Neurological Association’s Build the Clubhouse fundraiser.
“We will also have a silent auction with some very nice items coming in, so that will be fun,” said Perepolkin, who has already received support from Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund, who he says is a huge Hip fan, as well as from Nixon Wenger and BDO Canada LLP.
“It’s, of course, been more work than anticipated, but I’m basically planning what could be the biggest and best party of the year in Vernon and have The Hip as my entertainment, so it’s a great incentive to grind away and make it the best we can,” he added.
A video promoting the event, designed by On Ouch at Social Lead Marketing, can now be seen on Facebook, and has had more than 5,000 views since it was first posted, said Perepolkin.
“Over the next 10 days, we will be doing our best to promote the event,” he said. “We have a capacity for 1,200 people and are getting a great response, so want to fill up the curling club. The more people around, the more fun it will be and the more money we can raise for charity.”
Perepolkin is asking the community to register their group online at thehipok.com, so he can know how many people are coming and can plan accordingly.
“This will be an iconic moment in Canadian history. Come out and make the most of this sad situation by showing The Hip some love and supporting some great charities while we do it. It’s going to be a great day. I’m super excited and hope to see everyone out,” he said.
Doors to the curling club will open at 3 p.m. Aug. 20, with the concert at 5:30 p.m. Food and alcohol will be available, as well as a bouncy castle for children. Admission is a $10 minimum donation ($50 donations and up will receive a tax receipt).
