Music tour hits ice road

Three months of planning led to Aboriginal Music Tour, ice roads edition.

February 4, 2010: Volume 37 #3, Page A12

Shy-Anne Hovorka, Don Amero and Rob Benvegnu joined forces to bring their music – and positive messages of healthy living and following dreams – to communities normally bypassed when musicians tour.

It will see stops in Moosonee, Moose Factory, Attawapiskat and Kashechewan.

“We want to expose these youth to a positive message,” Hovorka said about the Jan. 27 to Feb. 8 tour. “We all want to show the youth you can be successful with clean music.”

Shy-Anne Hovorka performs in Thunder Bay.
-Wawatay News file photo

The artists want to promote the ability to follow your dreams at all costs and keeping a clean path, following a good path, getting back on a good path, and dealing with drugs, suicide, alcohol and other issues our youth are dealing with today, Hovorka said.

“We’re coming to these communities to show the youth we care,” Hovorka said. “I think it’s important to bring music to the youth.”

Amero was excited to be part of the tour.

“This will be my first trip up north,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to share and give back to fans.”

At each venue, collections for local food banks will be held. The Moosonee show will also be a fundraiser for earthquake ravaged Haiti, Hovorka said.

The tour will also give youth from each community a chance to earn some praise. At each location the tour stops at, a talent search will be held.

“The students will be judged on talent but also the message their music has,” Hovorka said. “It must have a positive message.”

Most of the stops will feature multiple performances, one for the students and an evening show for the entire community which will also feature the talent show.