Ben Wittrock is taking a quick break from his life in Hollywood, California, to organize an event in his home town of Powell River.
On Friday, April 4, 13 local musicians will take the stage at Westview Pub to raise money for the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation.
Wittrock started his music career in Powell River and won his first “Battle of The Bands” at age 16 with Superjuice. While studying at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Wittrock played in clubs with Hot Cop Prostitute, And Then There’s Jo and Dead Heroine.
His upcoming acoustic EP release marks a new sense of maturity and outlook on life reflected in his music. The EP is a blend of newly inspired folk music mixed in with his rock n’ rollin’ punk background.
Wittrock acknowledges the advantage of “growing up in such a musically-inclined town with so much support. This benefit is a great opportunity to give back to the community while doing what all of my friends and I love to do, make music.”
The lineup for the night, beginning at 8 pm, is Frenzy (John Tait, Brad Lemna and Tony Shigeoka); Wasted Thumb (Austin Parise, Chris Hummel, Ben Wayne-Kyle and Jeremy D’Onofrio); Paradise (Renelle Wikene, Sam Sansalone, Doug Rugg and Dan Riley); and Wittrock.
The Kirkness foundation was formed in 2009 with the goal of increasing the number of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students graduating from science and engineering programs (www.vernajkirkness.org). This year the foundation has provided 33 scholarships to allow students to spend one week at the University of Manitoba. Four of these students attend Brooks Secondary School. Gerry Brach, head teacher at Ahms Tah Ow School in Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation, will be accompanying these students to Winnipeg, May 26 through 30.
Tickets for the April 4 event are $10 and are available from the event sponsors Townsite Brewing, Paperworks Gift Gallery and at the door. All ticket holders will be entered into a raffle for a special prize donated by the brewery.
For more information, readers can contact Wittrock 1.323.445.0553 or foundation chair Ron Woznow 1.760.318.5741.
