Whenever there is a crisis or traumatic event that involves animals, the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is front and centre in making sure the best is done for the animals involved.
Staff and volunteers step up in such events as the current forest fires in and around Fort McMurray, as they did locally during the 1998 wildfire – rescuing horses, reuniting dogs and cats with their owners and temporarily housing lost and abandoned animals at their shelter.
This takes funds, so in aid of the Shuswap SPCA, Jake and Friends are putting on “Anything Animals,” a sing-along fundraiser at the end of May.
“All of the songs are about animals, and such a variety of them – from lions, birds, dogs and horses, to octopus, walrus, gorilla, hippo and dragon (Puff, of course!),” says Marcia Beckner.
The same group that brought you Leonard Cohen, Broadway Review and Woody Guthrie has 36 songs ready for this benefit concert. The group has rehearsed twice a week with an array of instrumentalists.
Band members include Joyce Lank, Diane Jewel, Lorn McCausland, Rina Schuurman and Richard Sevigny.
“As songs surfaced that would benefit from added instrumental bits, those in the group with these skills would step up,” says Beckner of Doug Stuart, Fred Green, Marg Shand, Miranda McLaws, Shan Saatchi, Bill Remphrey, Jake Jacobson, and Jan Parada who will join the 18 vocalists.
“As I say, a creative process,” says an enthusiastic Beckner. “The audience is sure to have an amazing musical evening, to say nothing of a feel-good evening supporting the SPCA.”
Anything Animals opens Friday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. with shows May 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. Admission is by donation at the door and all proceeds from these shows go to the Shuswap SPCA.
Beckner says the cast is also committed to the idea of the proposed performing arts centre and will hold fundraising shows for that project the following weekend.
Performing arts centre benefit shows take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m. Again, admission is by donation.