Final preparations are underway for the second annual Follow Your Heart Benefit Concert.
The big event benefiting Variety Children’s Charity is next Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at Harrison’s Memorial Hall (290 Esplanade Avenue). Local country artist and benefit organizer Todd Richard told The Observer that, as of Feb. 2, there were 75 tickets sold, which was a slower rate than he expected. But hope springs eternal.
“(Last year at this time), we had 40 tickets left, and we sold those out the day of the event and the hall was full, so hopefully that’ll happen again,” Richard said. “Fingers crossed.”
Richard said a number of local businesses have already donated to the event’s silent auction, including the Harrison Beach Hotel, Sasquatch Inn and the Agassiz-Harrison Museum. Last year, silent auction items and volunteering offers poured in every day leading up to the big event.
“When (businesses) donate their item, they’re basically giving that money to the kids,” Richard said. “It’s awesome.”
Vancouver-based rock band Brass Camel will headline the event. The band usually consists of frontman Daniel Sveinson, bassist Curt Arsenault, drummer Wyatt Gilson and a plethora of guest musicians. Established in 2018, their work spans a multitude of rock sub-genres. Brass Camel’s debut LP, “Brass,” dropped last year.
Last year’s event was a huge success, bringing in nearly $7,000 for Variety Children’s Charity, including a generous $1,000 from the Harrison Hot Springs Fire Department.
“They’re on board again this year,” Richard said of the fire department. “Last year, before the event, they raised $1,000. I thought it was money they raised throughout the year, but it was money they raised themselves. And then that night, they had the boot go around and raised another $1,000.”
Richard, a two-time winner of the B.C. Country Music Awards Humanitarian of the Year, organized the event last year with the help of local organizations, including Tourism Harrison River Valley. He hopes to reach or exceed the nearly $7,000 they raised their inaugural year.
“Whatever (the final total is), great. Whatever it is helps, but it’d be great to even more,” Richard said.
Tickets are available through the event’s Eventbrite page online, at the Tourism Harrison River Valley office and through Richard himself.
“I have paper tickets I’m carrying with me all the time,” Richard said.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Variety Children’s Charity has been a part of B.C. since 1966, serving the needs of special needs youth and children for nearly 60 years.