Calgary·Audio

Homeless Calgarians perform with local musicians at Sled Island

Working with local musicians, Drop-In Centre clients will perform an original show of music and poetry at the music festival this weekend.

Calgary Drop-In Centre clients to perform original music at festival

Airdrie musician Christian Hudson and DI client Jordan Williams will perform an original song together this weekend at Sled Island. (CBC)

Some members of Calgary's homeless community will be stepping on stage at Sled Island this weekend.

For months, they've been working with local musicians on original songs and poetry to perform at the festival.

The collaboration is thanks to a successful music program through the Calgary Drop-In (DI) Centre named after the 1975 Bob Dylan song, Shelter From The Storm

Aspiring hip hop artist and DI client, Jordan Williams has teamed up with Airdrie musician Christian Hudson. Together, they'll debut a song called Wake Up.

"This song is written about the struggle through depression and overcoming it. Just waking up from that sleep it can put you through," Williams told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday.

Calgary Drop-In Centre client Jordan Williams and Airdrie musician Christian Hudson teamed up to write and record the song, Wake Up.

Hudson began volunteering at the DI last year after he donated his $10,000 prize from the 2015 Calgary Stampede Talent Search to the centre.

Verses vs. Homelessness: A Shelter From the Storm Production takes place June 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. in the John Dutton Theatre of Calgary's Central Library. Admission is $10 and tickets available here.


With files from the Calgary Eyeopener