Concert this Friday!

We on the Friday afternoon picket line shift felt especially privileged last week when a group of some of Victoria's finest musicians showed up to perform for our small contingent. It was an impromptu thing -- Jeremy Walsh called up a few friends and suddenly there they were: Dale (the king of the washtub bass), fiddling sensation Velle and Sabrina with her jaw-dropping voice, serenading us right out there on the sidewalk.

It was amazing, and now it's going to happen again on a bigger scale.

Jeremy and friends have confirmed they will give a free performance in support of us locked-out Victoria CBC employees this Friday, Sept 30, at 12 noon.

It will be outside the CBC Pandora offices on the Harris Green.

Scheduled to play are: The Jeremy Walsh Band, Sabrina Kufner and The Dragonflies.

Jeremy Walsh says CBC broadcasters have always been there to support Canadian musicians, and the reason they are doing this is to show support for us during this difficult time.

Hope you can make it -- please tell your friends and colleagues. I know this will be a fun event with great music to raise everyone's spirits after 7 long weeks on the line.

Musical Interlude

It was quite a scene. Victoria musician Jeremy Walsh had just decided Friday morning to call up his musical friends and see if they could join him for an impromptu set on the CBC picket line. He showed up with his guitar and Velle, a fiddler with a lilting voice who plays with Barleywick and her own band, the Dragonflies. Two songs in, a man with a long ponytail, pulls up in a cab and joins in playing bass on a washtub and a stick. They're also joined by Sabrina whose voice gives us all chills. Friends and family of Jeremy and the other musicians sat on the grass in front of the station to listen.

People have been so kind to us and so supportive of the CBC broadcasters. Every day it seems at least someone comes by with gifts of food or signed petitions (Thanks Sheila McCullough!)

There have been some discouraging developments in the lockout over the past few days, and Friday we marked six weeks on the picket line -- can you believe it? But the visit from Jeremy and Val and Sabrina and Dale made our small crew feel inspired and grateful and appreciated. Thanks to you all.

Debbie

To listen to two of the songs select the following links one two

Fine Music, Fun times and Friends of the CBC

The Brentwood United Church was rocking Saturday night. The Cranbrook/Kootenay based band, As the Crow Flies, put on an amazing show. The Brentwood Bay Folk Club, now called Music in the Bay, provides an open stage on the third Saturday of the month and then follows that with a feature performer. If this past Saturday was typical it's worth the drive out the West Saanich Road to Brentwood for themusical get together.

The open stage featured classic folk, klezmer music, a cowboy poet and Dave Clark, guitarist and song writer who will be doing a full show in the new year. Then As the Crow Flies did their first set just to give the crowd of about a hundred a taste of what was to come. No one left early.

As the Crow Flies did pieces from both their CD's and some new songs they've written. It was definitely a CBC-friendly crowd. Mike Hefer, from the band, said their tour has been very difficult without CBC Radio to help get the word out about their shows. When the host from the Folk Club introduced me, so I could introduce the band, she talked about missing her new CBC friend from All Points West. That felt good. So did the loud cheer and round of applause from the crowd when CBC Radio was mentioned.

After 5 weeks it's easy to start wondering if anybody cares....and Saturday night was a perfect antidote for that feeling. Now what's the story behind the truck with the sign on its tailgate that says in bold print "I hate the CBC"?

Thanks Brentwood and As the Crow Flies.

Jo-Ann Roberts

Message from READ

This is a note submitted from Julie Holder, Executive Director Victoria READ Society.

Many, many thanks to the locked out CBC employees for generously giving their time and talents to put on a fundraiser in support of the Victoria READ Society Bursary Fund for Children. To us, this is indicative of the commitment these guys have for their communities. We all know that for most, working at CBC is not just another job in broadcasting. They're there because they want to be involved, they care about their communities, and they want to make a difference. And for READ as an organization, and for me as an individual, they do make a difference. We want them back on air - telling us what's going on in our community, raising the important issues, celebrating our successes when good things happen, and holding people accountable when they don't.

"Reading Between the Lines" was a great evening, not only for the great performances from poets, journalists, musicians, etc., but because we got to hear some of the great voices we've been missing.

Julie Holder,Executive DirectorVictoria READ Society

Fun and Games

Here's at least one of the photos from our benefit show this week.
Jo-Ann Roberts and Paul Vasey were pulled right into the action for an improv performance.
The Victoria READ Society has done a final count of all the money raised....and it's close to two thousand dollars!!

Thanks!

A huge thanks to everyone who came out in support of the Victoria READ Society.
More than $1700 was raised.
It was great for those of us on the picket line to reconnect with our audience.
Photos to come!

Tonight!!!

"Reading Between The Lines"

Locked-Out CBC Employees in Victoria are hosting a benefit for the Victoria READ Society.

The event will feature readings by M.A.C. Farrant, Lorna Crozier, Les Leyne and others. There will also be musical entertainment and a silent auction.

The evening will be hosted by Paul Vasey and Jo-Ann Roberts.

Where: Floyd's (Quadra and Yates)
When: 7:30 tonight (Thursday, September 15th)
Tickets are $15 and will be available at the door

Come out to say hi and support a great cause!