Canadian music stars to hold concert for flood relief

Canadian music stars are lining up to help southern Albertas flood victims with a benefit concert in Calgary.

Organizers announced the show will be held on Aug. 15 at McMahon Stadium. All the proceeds will go to the Calgary Foundation's flood rebuilding fund.

The concert has already attracted acts like Randy Bachman, Tom Cochrane, Colin James, Corb Lund, Matthew Good,Ian Tyson, Jann Arden,Loverboy, The Sadiesand The Sheepdogs. More musicians are expected to sign up.

Comedian Brent Butt will host the event.

Arden, whowas born in Calgary, told reporters Monday that she felt a personal connection to the flooding.

She recently visited a friend in Bragg Creek who had lost ruralproperty to the floods.

Community spirit to be celebrated

"I got out there and started crying my head off," she said.

"There was a tree skewered through my friend's house sideways. What kind of force does it take to rip a tree out of the ground and put it through a foot-and-a-half wall of a log home?"

Strangers with shovels and rubber boots lined up to help people in Bragg Creek, she said.

"I was overwhelmed by just the community spirit and this is what this concert is all about. It's a celebration of thousands upon thousands of volunteers that came out to help each other," she said.

The Calgary Foundation's fund supports southern Albertas long-term community rebuilding efforts, including in hard-hit areas such asHigh River, Canmore and nearby First Nation reserves.

The tickets, starting at $30,will go on sale July 19 through Ticketmaster, which is waiving all service fees.

Other concerts planned

Anotherbenefit concert featuring country music starswill take place Aug. 4 at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary.

Albertans George Canyon, Paul Brandt and Tom Jackson will be among those taking part in the performance to support victims and celebrate the spirit of all those affected by flooding.

Canadian rockers Rushalso pledged todonate moneyfrom an upcoming show in Alberta to Red Cross flood relief.

The band was supposed to play in Calgaryon July 24, butthe showwas moved to Red Deerbecause of extensive damage inside the Saddledome.

The flooding also raised questionsabout whether the Calgary Folk Festival would still be heldat Prince's Island Park in downtown Calgary, which wascovered bywater.

Officials say work is well underway to get the islandready to welcomemusic fanslater this month, but one stage and the artisan market will be moved to Eau Claire market nearby because of flood damages.