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Alberta musicians set to bring in Christmas cheer

A bevy of high-spirited Alberta roots musicians are lining up to perform a benefit Christmas concert on Friday for Red Deer’s Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen.

A bevy of high-spirited Alberta roots musicians are lining up to perform a benefit Christmas concert on Friday for Red Deer’s Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen.

“Cow jazz” group Back Porch Swing will be joining fiddle champ and fellow Edmontonian Bruce Blair, Calgarian Steve Fisher of Restless Lester, and the five-part harmony group the June Bugs for a second annual concert of acoustic Christmas music. It will start at 6:30 p.m. at The Hub, 4936 Ross St.

Also on the bill are popular local performers, including singer/songwriter Donna Durand, bluegrass performer Ruth Henderson, as well as Justine Vandergrift, Teresa Neuman, Harvey Montpetit, Larry Reese on the sitar, and tribal dancer Crystal Weran.

The evening will be hosted by Tom Coxworth from the CKUA radio show Folk Routes.

Last year’s concert had great attendance, and organizer Renay Eng-Fisher is hoping the community shows similar enthusiasm for this year’s benefit, which will support Loaves and Fishes and seek donations of non-perishable items for the Red Deer Food Bank.

She said both organizations do “wonderful humanitarian work,” and could use more assistance this time of year, when going without takes on a more painful meaning for many people.

“When people are down on their luck, it’s difficult. Someone who has always been able to provide for his family may find it hard to have to seek help.” But Eng-Fisher hopes the concert will also raise awareness that these services are available, and that someday, needy families might have the opportunity to give back.

She praised the enthusiasm of participating musicians, who will be singing seasonal songs. Despite how busy everyone is, “they jumped to the challenge and said, ‘We would love to do this.’ ”

Concert-goers can expect to hear “some great, heartfelt, acoustic Christmas music,” she added. “We are celebrating the season and the spirit of giving.”

Tickets are $10 at the door, plus one non-perishable food item for the food bank.

lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com