Musicians band together for Ukraine

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/04/2022 (1283 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CODY SELLAR

STAFF REPORTER

CITY CENTRE

Manitoban musicians are tuning up to support Ukrainians displaced by war.

On April 30, a benefit concert called the Winnipeg Rock Benefit Social for Ukraine will reverberate the walls of downtown’s Metropolitan Entertainment Centre. All proceeds will go to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which has agreed to earmark the funds to help Ukrainian refugees resettling in Manitoba.

“As with everybody else, when we heard the terrible atrocities being committed in Ukraine and about the four million-plus people that have been displaced, we know that Winnipeg was in a unique position to accept many of these,” said event organizer Steve Carson.

But Carson knew the displaced people would need help, so he got to work putting together the concert.

He booked artists such as Paul McNair of Streetheart and Harlequin, Stephen Broadhurst of Doc Walker, and Michael Polanski of Jenerator. While people are invited to let loose a little, the event is more than a rock concert.

“It’s going to be a classy event — little bit of a dress up event,” Carson said. “We’ll have appetizers served throughout the night by servers … we’re going to be having a raffle for prizes, a live auction and a 50/50 draw. During the event, we’ll have smaller acts playing in the back room.”

Carson said that while he’d love to fill the venue to its approximately 1,100 person capacity, the centre provides enough space for those worried about being crammed in with that many people.

“The unique thing about this venue is it is general admission. So, people can move around the building,” he said.

The venue has a variety of accommodations for everyone wanting to come and support Ukrainian refugees, Carson said. It has theatre seating, space to stand and dance, high-top bar tables, private lounges for sponsors, a restaurant area and a patio, he said.

“We’re very excited about it,” Carson said.

Zrada is a local band that will be performing at the social. The band sings in the Ukrainian language and blends traditional Ukrainian folk into modern sounds.

Main songwriter, co-vocalist and trumpeter Andriy Michalchyshyn said the band was happy to chip in to help.

“We were honoured to be asked,” he said. “There are so many Ukrainian choirs and options that people have and to be asked to be part of this was really, really touching.”

Michalchyshyn said all members of the band were born in Canada but have Ukrainian heritage. In fact, Michalchyshyn’s first language was Ukrainian, he said.

He said he’s gone through several states since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Lately, he said he’s become more hardened to the violence, “a bit dead inside.”

During that time, the band has been a “saving grace,” providing Michalchyshyn with an outlet to deal with the situation. Now, he and his bandmates are looking to use that outlet to help those the violence has uprooted and sent fleeing across the world.

Supporters can find tickets by going to www.universe.com and searching Winnipeg Rock Benefit Social for Ukraine.

Tickets cost $60, and support tickets, which provide access to an online feed and entry into a raffle, cost $20.