By Sheldon Spackman

Show Must Go On

Live music returns to Bo’s in support of local artists, venues

Sep 17, 2020 | 11:40 AM

Raising awareness for the music and arts industry is the goal behind an event happening Tuesday.

Red Alert Red Deer – Save Canadian Stages will take place Sept. 22 from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at Bo’s Bar and Stage.

Owner Brennen Wowk says the campaign aims to highlight the important role that musicians, live venues, agents, music labels, and crew members play in our lives and local economies.

“The arts have been pretty much on pause since COVID,” laments Wowk. “A lot of these independent music venues are struggling, a lot of the artists are struggling, so across Canada on the 22nd, venues, individuals are lighting up red, wearing red and we’re lighting our room up red to try to just showcase and create awareness for the dire status of the music industry.”

Following updates to COVID-19 related guidelines last Friday that allow live music on local stages again with measures in place to limit transmission, Wowk says there will be a variety of things going on at Bo’s on Tuesday.

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“We’re going to have a mixture of acoustic showings, we’re going to have livestream events from different venues in town. And we’re going to have some different artists coming in to speak about the status of the music industry, as well as just give people a night to get away and to just immerse themselves in music once again.”

Wowk says all the talent will be from central Alberta.

“They’re all musicians that kind of span from singer/songwriter, to punk-influence, to country,” he explains. “The idea is we want to showcase all the different venues in town, and the great talent that lives in this city.”

Wowk hopes the nation-wide event also creates greater awareness with government about the need for more help for venues like his.

“The Canadian music scene is so intertwined,” says Wowk. “Bo’s relies on touring bands as a part of our business and if venues across Canada begin shutting down because of not being able to operate for the last six months, it’s going to be harder and harder for these bands to tour across Canada, which means there will be less shows coming to our town.”

Wowk notes that all COVID safety measures will be in place for Tuesday’s event.

“We’re a large room, so that’s one benefit of what we’ve got going here. We have no seating within 15 feet of the stage, all tables are separated with two metre distancing in place, and all members who attend will have to remain seated for the event. As well on stage, we’re going to have some dividers up between the stage and the crowd.”

Wowk adds that temperature checks will be taken at the door as well to help ensure that all guests are healthy.

To show your support for local artists and venues trying to keep their livelihoods alive, you’re asked to wear red while attending on Tuesday. Donations will be accepted at the door.

“100 per cent of the proceeds go to the artists and the techs, as well as to the Support Independent Music Coalition,” says Wowk. “So come and enjoy some music. Artists just want to play for people, and to be able to give them a platform to play their music again is just great.”

The Memorial Centre in Red Deer also plans to be lit up in red on Tuesday.