Local Musicians for a Local Cause

Blue On Black Among Seven Bands in Musicfest 2022 Lineup

Musicfest returns this coming Saturday, September 10th at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 87 with a full plate and playlist to dish out some of the best in local culinary and performing arts. With all proceeds going to the Kirkland Lake Food Bank, fans and supporters of the long awaited fundraiser are all in.

Tickets are forty-five dollars and available at The Jewel Box, White Eagle Bar and Grill, and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 87. This gets you dinner and a show, spotlighting seven local bands including Emmerson Project, Eva Electra, Blue on Black, The Neighbours, Black Sheep, Off the Beaten Track, and Ruckus. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:00 p.m. featuring Mona’s lasagna from The Fed. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available. There are plenty of door prizes and an evening buffet will be served.

“It’s all about local musicians coming together to support a local cause,” praises Musicfest chair and musician Terry Rosicki. “It’s kind of our motto.”

It is the third fundraiser for Musicfest. The first was held in 2018 at the White Eagle/Polish Hall and all proceeds were donated to Save the Lasalle. In 2019 Musicfest returned to the White Eagle for an encore performance where the funds went to Advocates for Northern Animals in honor of the late Brenda Lautaoja and the work she championed for pets and animals. That year Musicfest raised a total of $3,132.00 for the cause. When COVID struck in early 2020, Musicfest was put on hold.

Now, almost three years later, the popular event is back on track. “We get great support from local bands and the community,” continues Rosicki. “This year we have seven bands – Emmerson Project, Eva Electra, The Neighbours, Off The Beaten Track, Black Sheep, Blue on Black, and Ruckus.” Rosicki performed in the first two Musicfests but will be stepping aside this year. Born and raised in Kirkland Lake, the singer/songwriter is well known for his performances through the years and community including Kabaret and past front man for Global Village. Rosicki has been busy working on a solo CD which will include the released singles My Momma’s House, The Door, and All That I Need.

“I think the whole idea for Musicfest,” saysRosicki, “came about many years ago as a young man growing up in Kirkland Lake. I grew up with music around me and was always impressed with all the music and talent in town. That feeling to start something, grew when I returned to town after living in the North Bay Area for ten years. I wanted to start a production with local talent and give back to the community. As musicians we all want to give back – to support our community.”

In 2018 Rosicki approached Carrie Thompson, owner of the Polish Hall and asked if he could try starting Musicfest there. Rosicki says she was more than accommodating. “She fully supported the idea,” praises Rosicki, “and was a tremendous help.” Thompson and Rosicki were the Musicfest directors when Kathy Zidar jumped on board in 2019 as secretary-treasurer. Zidar and Rosicki are co-chairing this year’s show.

Eva Electra, Black Sheep, and Ruckus are return performers. Newcomers in the lineup are Blue on Black, The Neighbours, Off the Beaten Track, and Kirkland Lake’s rising stars, Emmerson Project who will be performing during dinner due to their age group.

“Emmerson Project is probably Kirkland Lake’s newest band” says fellow musician Trish McNaueal (Eva Electra) who is also the band’s lead guitarist’s mom. “The band was formed in the spring of 2022,” continues McNaueal, “as the group got together to collaborate on some musical projects for the KLDCS (Kirkland Lake and District Composite School) Spring Arts Night.” The members include Emmerson Drew-Brook on vocals, Carter Armstrong on lead guitar, Ella Rose Lacarte on bass and Will Coupland on drums, vocals and sometimes rhythm guitar.”

“They were supported by James Taylor,” praises McNaueal, “as they prepared for Arts Night. James continues to support the group as much as possible.” Singer/songwriter James A. Taylor is the lead guitarist and vocalist for Rockslide and continues with his solo career which includes his 2013 debut album Love Lives Here. McNaueal adds that Emmerson Project has been playing classic rock, pop rock and grunge and they’ve also been writing original songs that they plan to showcase this weekend at the Legion.

New to Musicfest but no stranger to the venue are the core of Off the Beaten Track, the husband and wife duo from King Kirkland – John Sluman (vocals and rhythm guitar) and wife Barb Kendrick (vocals). The couple organized the Legion’s Friday Night Jam Sessions pre-Covid. They also share songwriting duties on their original songs. Joining them for Musicfest 2022 is Sonny Batisse (lead guitar), from Matachewan First Nation.

“We are an acoustic trio,” says Sluman, ” doing original songs and an eclectic mix of covers. We do our best to give each cover a unique treatment, including at times additional original lyrics.”

“Its great to be back playing at the Legion,” praises Sluman, “and we’re happy to lend our talents to raise funds for a great cause. “

“It is so encouraging to see how excited the bands are to be part of this endeavor,” says Musicfest co-chair Kathy Zidar. “When we were planning, Terry and I thought we’d give the bands something like two to three weeks to respond. We were filled up within hours.” Zidar looks after finances and administration, ticket sales, getting donations, set-up and decorating, and food arrangements while Rosicki handles “the band stuff” – schedules, equipment requirements, stage setup, sound system etc.

Zidar has also charmed the Kabaret stage with her talents and is a regular contributor to karaoke nights at the Encore Club and other local venues. Currently she is a member of The Lakettes (Zidar, Connie Wilberforce, Angela Camp) who have released two singles, Just The Girl, and A Dream to Live With. Produced and presented by The Couchmen (Andy Camp, Bob Johnston), and written by Angela Camp, A Dream to Live With has reached 20,000 views on YouTube and recently rose to number twenty-six on the Euro Indie Chart from Italy.

Zidar has done backup vocals for The Couchmen who also performed at Musicfest 2019, and she will be performing backup this coming weekend for The Neighbours which consist of Ola Hausel (guitar/cajon/vocals), Ron Carson (guitar/vocals) and Bob Johnston (bass/vocals). Carson performed with Johnston and Camp (keys/vocals) at the 2019 Musicfest where Camp was also the soundman. This year Ben Pamplin will be doing sound. Pamplin performs drums for Ruckus and will be joining fellow band members Darcy Lachapelle (lead guitar) and Mark Rossini (bass/lead vocals) as part of Saturday’s lineup.

Lachapelle also plays lead guitar for Eva Electra alongside fellow members Trish NcNaueal (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), John Wayne Archer (bass/vocals), and Junior Benoit (drums/vocals).

Black Sheep includes Mike Franceschini (guitar,) Eric Brouse (drums) and Kevin Szack (bass, vocals). “The band is looking forward to playing again at Musicfest,” says Franceschini, “in order that we may contribute to helping those in need in our community.”

Blue On Black Is a four member band that plays oldies to an up beat rock, and they also play Blues/Rock. The group includes Claude Laurente (rhythm/lead guitar, backup vocals), Connie Wilberforce (front line singer), Dan Raimondo (drums, backup vocals) and Darren Phillips (bass, backup vocals).

Saturday will be more than just dinner and a show. It is a culmination of decades and generations of artists with love for their craft, for each other, and their community – a collective of heart and soul reaching out to serve a generous helping of compassion, and the greater good.

“It’s really a community event with the community benefitting,” says Rosicki. “The Kirkland Lake Foodbank will be the recipient of the proceeds from this year’s show. The Legion will benefit from the bar sales. I hope all will come out and see some great local talent who have volunteered their time for this event. I’m excited!”

“There is so much musical talent in Kirkland Lake,” praises Zidar. “The business community is also so willing to help out, and we have had a great response for donations. John (MacDonell) and the staff at The Legion Branch 87 have been so accommodating and wonderful to work with. I am so proud as a member of the music community to be able to help showcase the extremely talented musicians this town has to offer.”