This weekend, as Vernon’s Andrew Allen rolls into town and En Karma takes the stage at Global Music Fest, local singer/songwriter Leah West will be waiting in the wings.
Monday morning it was announced her song, The Miracle is You, got the most votes in the Global Music Fest songwriting competition.
“Our whole aim here is to connect people and to encourage people to engage local non-profits,” said Ryan Donn, Global Music Fest founder.
This is the second year of the music festival which promotes global awareness through local action as the opening event for Kelowna’s Global Citizen Week celebration. Global Citizen Week draws attention to the Unite Nation’s Millennium Development Goals, presenting ways to get involved in initiatives to help achieve the international effort to improve quality of life in developing countries.
Running Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Laurel Packinghouse, the music festival will see all six local singer/songwriters who crafted a song for the competition perform their music.
The Miracle is You was written about the work Partners in the Horn of Africa does to help the people of Ethiopia. The non-profit organization works to improve infrastructure, support and health and welfare programs and anti-poverty initiatives targeting women.
The Global Citizen Week songwriting contest was designed to see local musicians help the non-profit sector by writing music that would promote their cause and could be used in future marketing initiatives.
West is now considering going to Ethiopia as a result of the experience.
“I just think the fact that she’s considering going that far for a local non-profit is pretty amazing,” said Global Music Fest founder and organizer Ryan Donn.
Tickets for Global Music Fest can be purchased online for $15 or at the door for $18 per night. The line up for Friday, Feb. 24 includes Vancouver’s Behind Sapphire, Speed Control and headliner Andrew Allen. The following night local celtic band Cod Gone Wild and indie pop rock darlings Rococode open for Vancouver’s En Karma, one of the to Bhangra bands.
