Musicians both from home and abroad are reaching out to victims of various tragedies coast to coast – Paul McCartney has offered up free tickets to his Quebec City show to those who survived the Lac-Mégantic train disaster, while Nickelback has joined a lineup of performers for a relief concert for those affected by the floods in Calgary.
McCartney, who is scheduled to perform at the Plains of Abraham on July 23rd, is expecting to give out as many as 1000 tickets, according to an article by The Canadian Press. “We want to give a moment of respite, a few hours of pleasure which will perhaps take their minds off the tragedy into which they have been plunged in the last two weeks,” said Daniel Gelinas, director general of concert promoter 3 E, in a statement released Friday. The city of Lac-Mégantic has been majorly affected after a trail derailed on July 6th, killing more than 45 people and setting ablaze a number of homes and businesses.
Meanwhile, Calgary residents are still reeling after floods, and musicians have gotten together to put on a concert to raise funds to help with the recovery. Nickelback has joined a distinguished list of musicians, including Jann Arden, Tom Cochrane, Matthew Good and The Sheepdogs, who will put on a show on August 15th at McMahon Stadium. “They are probably the largest-selling band ever to come out of Alberta and I believe out of Canada,” said Chairman Peter Jurisic of Alberta Flood Aid to the Calgary Sun. “I can’t think of anyone more appropriate – it’s the largest band ever out of Alberta, they are Alberta boys, and they are good guys.”
Photo: PNP/ WENN.com
