St. John's acts fundraise for lupus after Selena Gomez cancellation

Three St. John's musicians have transformed their battle to share a stage with Selena Gomez into a fundraiser to help organizations combatingthe singer's disease.

• Selena Gomez cancels concerts in Atlantic Canada

It Could Be Franky, Rough Hands and Lookalike will performat the Rockhouse in St. John's Friday night to support Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who live with lupus.

The three actswere anticipating a fight Friday, as they were set fora battle-of-the-bands competition for a chance to perform at the AtlanticFest show in Paradise on Saturday.

"We had been looking forward to the show for, I'd say at least a couple of weeks, preparing we were practicing almost every day." said Matthew Dines, one half of Lookalike.

This brings people out to see that we need the help, that we need more research.- DeanneLayman

But afterpopstarGomez pulled out of the show for health reasons, and the inaugural mega-concert was cancelled, the trio decided to push ahead with their performance in support of Lupus NL.

"We messaged the bands who were going to be play, and we said let's just do this for Lupus NL, and make a bad situation better," said Dines.

Gomez said this week she was canceling the remainder of her world tour to focus on her health.

• SelenaGomez reveals lupus diagnosis, chemotherapy treatment

The singer has been diagnosed with lupus, and said she has been dealing with the side effects of anxiety, panic attacks and depression.

Local bands team up for Lupus N.L. fundraiser

8 years ago

Duration 1:27

Dave Sheers and Matthew Dines of Lookalike talk about their fundraising show at the Rockhouse in St. John's on Friday.

A jolt for local group

It's not the best of circumstances, but Deanne Layman the president of Lupus NL saidthe incident has helped people become aware of the disease.

After the high-profile cancellation, Layman said people who were reluctant to get involved with her organizationor confront their diagnosisare now looking to her group.

"I don't wish Selena any more problems that she already has,but in a roundabout way she did us a favour," she said.

Layman said she was thrilled to hear the three performers were going to donated their profits to her organization.

"It means everything to me because this brings people out to see that we need the help, that we need more research, more awareness out in the public," she said.