Those who have been missing live concerts will have a chance to both see local musicians perform and support health-care workers on the front line.
Singer/songwriter Michael Martyn has partnered with Makers Market owner David Shaw to present the Essential Concert Series.
Every Thursday, starting this week, at 8 p.m., a musician will perform in Makers Market and it will be streamed live on Facebook. Martyn will kick things off this week.
He is asking that people who tune in donate to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital’s COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Fund, designed to help with the purchase of personal protective equipment and other needed items.
“It gives us an opportunity not only to raise funds for the hospital, but to bring some attention to local artists who are out of revenue at this point,” Martyn said. “It gives us a chance to stay in the public eye.”
Those who donate (suggested minimum donation is $25) will have a chance to win an artisan wood furniture set valued at $2,000, courtesy of the Northern Joinery and Makers Market. The winner will be announced June 11 at 8 p.m.
The performers are not being paid. Rather, they want to raise “as much money as possible for our friends at the hospital,” Martyn said.
“This is about community. It’s about harnessing the power of community to do some good,” he said. “We’re going to raise spirits while raising funds.”
Local musicians like Martyn are looking forward to the day when they can get back on the stage in front of a crowd and start making money again.
“It’s been difficult because we require audiences, and musicians have lost income for the foreseeable future,” he said.
Even after the pandemic passes and people start to gather again, “we’re going to be hard-pressed to make a go of it,” he added.
“When this thing is lifted, the spending capacity for people will likely be limited for quite some time to come.”
In the meantime, he encourages people to check out the Essential Concert Series and support the hospital at the same time.
He is also looking for musicians interested in performing as part of the series. They are invited to email him at [email protected].
For updates on the series, check out the Facebook event page.
Donations to the hospital’s COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Fund can be made here.
