The Awesome Music Project kicks off with Fefe Dobson and Tyler Shaw In Support Of Young Adult Mental Health
When storytellers come together to support a good cause, the results can be absolutely magical. In the case of the 2023 Stories, Songs and Science: A Salute to Frankie event, it was intimate, meaningful, and had a healthy dash of magic in there. The event, which pays tribute to Frankie Commisso, a young musician who died by suicide in 2021 is a fundraising event to support the introduction of The Awesome Music Hour at Stella’s Place, a young adult mental health service provider in Toronto.
The event which was held at the legendary El Mocambo on June 21st brought together scientists, musicians, authors, and other storytellers together to talk about how important music is to mental health, identity, and as a form of therapy.
How the event worked is that people like Stacey Gawrylash who is an Access Counselor at Stella’s Place Hoste talked to the audience not only about their experiences but also about their understanding of why music is integral to all of us. Then, a musician backed by a FANTASTIC band would come up and perform a song related to the story, and one of their own original songs. I can safely say that throughout the night, my toes were tapping and I had a huge smile on my face.
Artists such as Juno-nominated multi-platinum singer/songwriters Fefe Dobson and Tyler Shaw, Award-winning singer/songwriter and producer Danny Michel, 2022 American Idol Top 5 finalist in Nicolina and author, activist and musician Antonio Michael Downing all graced the stage, to not only bring the stories of the storytellers to life, but also to share their stories.
The only thing I hoped for was a little more stage time from the major acts, like Fefe Dobson and Tyler Shaw. I did have a fantastic time, and I could imagine that the artists agreed to do the event for a small fee, maybe even nothing to support a good cause, but two songs (only one of which was original) was a bit of a let down (especially because artists like Fefe Dobson have so many hits) but it didn’t take away from the emotion of the night, and the great cause that was being supported.
Those looking to support the Awesome Music Project can do so by checking out their amazing book, “The Awesome Music Project Canada: Songs of Hope and Happiness” here: https://www.theawesomemusicproject.com/book. This book is a collection of personal stories told by dozens of Canadians about the transformative impact music has had on their lives The book features regular Canadians from all walks of life, as well as famous Canadians like singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, comedian Rick Mercer, and astronaut Chris Hadfield. Proceeds from the sale of Songs of Hope and Happiness help fund important research into the transformative impact of music on mental wellness and mental health. We totally bought a book after the show, and are excited to read it!
[Review by Shan Fernando]