By Adam Prudhomme
Staff Reporter
Musical tastes may vary, but everyone can get behind the spirit of the GarrettFest fundraising concert, which takes place Aug. 27 at the Strathcona Paper Centre.
That’s why Music By The River organizers have opted to join forces with GarrettFest, and will be accepting donations during their final show of the season, which also takes place Aug. 27. As it turned out, GarrettFest just so happened to be scheduled for the same date as the final instalment of the 2017 Music By The River. There were no hard feelings, however, as the two events quickly forged a partnership.
“Everyone was on board that we should collect donations at Music By The River,” said Cliff Trott, one of the event organizers. “What they’re doing (at the SPC), their rock bands and louder music so there’s a lot of people who might actually prefer to go see a big band, old style.”
Rideau River Big Band will take the stage at Conservation Park, playing from 2 to 4 p.m. The RRBB is a 15-piece band, featuring a mix of brass instruments. Donations made at the park will go towards helping the parents of Garrett Mills establish an NDSS scholarship in his honour.
Meanwhile on the other side of town, GarrettFest will run from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the SPC featuring The Saturday Night Glad Rags, KnucKel Hed and Trilogy. Tickets for the concert are $20 and are available at Gray’s IDA, Marie’s Place and AquaSure Water Systems.
Much like GarrettFest, Trott says Music By The River will hold an annual event in support of the Mills scholarship.
Prior to the Aug. 27 show, the Music By The River concert series will feature Hat Trick, an acoustic guitar trio, at Conservation Park this Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. It will be the third show in the four concert series. Admission is free and guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair.