Blues for Christmas in 30th year raising funds for struggling musicians

Organizers of this Sunday's 30th annual Blues for Christmas charity concert are raising funds for students and musicians in Vancouver.

Blues and jazz fans are in for a treat with this weekend's star-studded lineup, which includes names like Jim Brynes, David Gogo, and Steve Kozak.

This year, proceeds will go to the Drew Burns Commodore Musician Fund, which will help students in financial hardship, school music programs and musicians in need.

Many musicians don't have a safety net to fall back on when times are tough, says Dalannah Gail Bowen, who first started organizing Blues for Christmas 30 years ago.

"Many musicians never belonged to the musician union. So when something happens they get sick, or something relative to that, they don't have anywhere to go to access the funds."

Bowen, who started Blues for Christmas with the help of Drew Burns, says the fund is a meaningful way to remember him. Burns's desire to help musicians was what sparked the idea all those years ago, she said.

"I went to Drew Burns, who of course we all love, and who was very supportive of musicians in Vancouver in general. He always thought that they deserved more respect than they got at the time and so he agreed to partner with me and the first Blues for Christmas was born."

Tickets almost sold out 

Bowen says a few tickets are still available. 

Blues for Christmas is at the Commodore Ballroom Sunday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Ticket Master or at the door.

Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the Vancouver Food Bank.

To listen to the full audio, click the link labelled: Blues for Christmas concert raises money for charity for 30th year.