Singing for supper warms the heart
Christmas is all about traditions. Some are old, like putting up a tree, but for Chris Brinklow, a pretty recent tradition is the most important.
“It’s almost like it’s not Christmas unless Songs For Supper is happening. It kind of is my Christmas,” Brinklow said. “Getting a bunch of friends together, playing music and raising some money for the food bank will hopefully be a tradition for a long time.”
Brinklow founded the event six years ago to raise money for the Saskatoon Food Bank. Since it began in 2007, he estimates Songs For Supper has raised $12,000. At the 2011 event, $2,300 was raised, an amount matched by PotashCorp. Brinklow hopes to raise $2,500 this year.
The concert features 10 songwriters from Saskatoon and beyond, and every year Brinklow has no trouble getting people involved.
“There’s never a shortage of people to chip in,” Brinklow said.
This year’s roster of musicians features Brinklow, Kirby Criddle, Sarah Farthing, the Karpinka Brothers, Jen Lane, Melissa Nygren, Smokekiller, JJ Voss, Vaero and Ray Whitton.
The event also received help from the participants at Cosmo Industries, who put up posters on Broadway and downtown.
Everything from the technical support to the venue is donated for the evening to ensure all $25 of each ticket goes directly to the Saskatoon Food Bank. Additional cash and food donations are welcome.
Last year, local TV station Shaw 10 rotated a video of Songs For Supper with the beloved fire log.
“It’s their highest-rated show, so to be thrown in that time slot, we were lucky,” he said with a laugh.
The format of the concert is two songwriters’ circles, making for a spontaneous show.
“It’s a very free, open feeling that the musicians don’t have to just sit there with their hands in their pockets while the other is playing. They can join in, they can sing harmonies,” Brinklow said.
Songs For Supper takes place Sunday at The Refinery.