An Evening of Local Music in Support of Roots to Harvest

On Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 8 pm, Algoma House presents Rootstock 2020, an intimate evening of music performed online by some of Thunder Bay’s most-loved musicians. Tickets are $10 and all donations collected during the event will assist Roots to Harvest in continuing to support our community with emergency food access. Ticket sale proceeds will be directed to artists and the venue, Algoma House.

Musicians include:

Clay Breiland
Jean-Paul De Roover
Ian Gill
Elle Kay
Luke Warm and the Cold Ones
Morning Light Acoustic
Jamie Smith
Anna Torontow with Mood Indigo

 Nancy Saunders, Rootstock organizer and a long-time Roots to Harvest volunteer, came up with the idea. “This concert came out of a desire to provide an enjoyable evening where we can all feel like we’re in this together. Thunder Bay is an incredible community and while we are isolating and feeling disconnected right now, we can all participate in this concert and know that we are experiencing something together while separated in our own homes. Many local artists have lost the opportunity to bring their talents to their fans, and this will support them and let a broad audience enjoy their music. Donations to Roots to Harvest throughout the live event will help them continue supporting members of our community who have been impacted by COVID-19. It was a natural fit to work with Chad Kirvan from Algoma House to host the online event, and we’re happy he jumped right in.”

Roots to Harvest is a not-for-profit organization using food as a tool to connect to people and build belonging and dignity. Once the impacts of COVID-19 hit Thunder Bay, Roots to Harvest quickly shifted from regular programming to focusing on meeting the needs of our community by organizing and collaborating with other community groups to distribute weekly family food packages to help those who relied on school food packages, emergency good food boxes for seniors, and working with partners in nearby Indigenous communities to have increased food security during this stressful time. The organization’s regular programs continue to be affected, as well as all of their fundraising efforts that normally happen during late winter and early spring.

“The recent pandemic had left us heartbroken over many cancelled shows, so when Roots to Harvest asked us to participate in this amazing fundraiser, we were more than thrilled. For us Rootstock is so much more than an outstanding event for a great cause, it’s our chance to reconnect and give back to the community that we love and miss,” says Krivan.

Algoma House is a community-based project that is dedicated to connecting musicians to music fans. Their intimate venue is a space they created to provide artists with the perfect platform to share their talents both locally and with the world. While the venue is currently closed due to COVID-19, during these times of social distancing Algoma House is embracing opportunities to bring more music to you virtually. Their high-quality videos help promote the artists we know and love to their amazing fans.

Rootstock 2020 is a new way to support local and connect at the same time. This online community event is taking place on Roots to Harvest’s Facebook page. Tickets are $10 and are available through Eventbrite then online donations throughout the event can be made to Roots to Harvest as people wish.

“A rootstock is part of a plant, often an underground part, from which new above-ground growth can be produced.”