BAYOU BENEFIT, a collective effort by local Vancouver musicians

[StoneMtn]

VANCOUVER (September 14, 2005) – On Wednesday, September 21, the Yale will present BAYOU BENEFIT, a collective effort by local Vancouver musicians to raise funds for victims of the devastating Hurricane Katrina. Among the many performers who will play for aid include Jim Byrnes, Gary Comeau, Mojo Zydeco, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Incognito, Muddy Fraser and Mike Henry.

Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast on August 25, creating havoc in Florida before moving back out to sea to recharge. When the hurricane came ashore again, it struck Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi with winds of almost 300 kilometers an hour. Levees fell in New Orleans and polluted water surged into the city. Even after the hurricane had passed, water levels continued to rise, destroying homes and drowning hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people.

For those who couldn’t escape the hurricane, the situation quickly became hellish. Destruction is widespread; New Orleans is mired in water fouled by sewage, gasoline and corpses. Impassable roads, downed power lines, sporadic gas fires and damaged structures are still hazards.

From the onset of this disaster, Canadian Red Cross has been in close contact with its American counterparts to offer assistance. In response to their urgent request for experienced disaster workers, Canadian Red Cross has been deploying trained volunteers to assist with shelter management, feeding, clean-up, transportation and other necessary work. Relief workers have encountered many challenges as they continue to live in difficult conditions and deal with people who have suffered great losses and are under tremendous stress.

Tickets for BAYOU BENEFIT are $15. Proceeds will go to the Canadian Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Fund. For more information on this fundraiser event which begins at 8:30pm, contact The Yale at 604-681-9253 or visit www.theyale.ca. The Yale is located at 1300 Granville Street, Vancouver.