The Nanaimo Blues Society has launched a new monthly concert fundraiser to support the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank.
The society usually collects food bank donations at its annual Summertime Blues festival, but with this year’s event cancelled due to COVID-19 the group had to find another way to pitch in.
“We were able to give a big chunk of change to the food bank,” said NBS director Brian Whitty, noting that they raised $4,500 last year. “And they’re still hurting so we thought we’d try and do something.”
Last week the Nanaimo Blues Society started its Blues Plate Special fundraiser. Each month a video performance by local blues musicians will be posted to the society’s website, with viewers encouraged to click a button to “donate a meal” to Loaves and Fishes.
“Restaurants used to have a blue plate special,” Whitty explained. “A special of the day that was a full-course meal at a lower price.”
Blues musician Whitey Somers and his band are November’s featured performer and acts have already been selected for the next four months. In December a variety of artists will present a Christmas-themed show, January will feature a performance by guitarist Mark Crissinger, February will see the trio of Gerry Barnum, David Essig and Tom Neville take to the stage and Whitty’s band Blue Dog Ramble will be featured in March. The videos will be archived for future viewing.
Whitty said more performances may follow depending on the success of Blues Plate Special.
To view the first video and to make a donation, click here.
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