Four bands will compete against each other for prizes and bragging rights at the inaugural Band+Aid event in support of pediatric healthcare at Shaare Zedek’s Wilf Children’s Hospital in Jerusalem.
Band+Aid, presented by the Young Hearts Divison of the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation, kicks off the Throwback to Your Youth Campaign, on Aug. 22 at Toronto’s Hard Rock Café.
The four bands are The Garden, Black Mink, The Sauce and Hot Mess.
The members of The Garden pride themselves on covering 60 years’ worth of classic rock. The band features Mark Wexler, vocals; Phil Aube, guitar; Anthony Regan, guitar/keys; Jon Kazdan, bass; Joe Franze, drums; and Sam Merkur, vocals.
“The promised land is dear to my heart, having lived in Israel on a kibbutz for a time and having family born and raised there,” Wexler, who is on the event committee said. “This made the decision to join the committee an easy one, as I am passionate about supporting Israel.”
Black Mink combines a unique pairing of soulful vocals and guitar-driven hooks. They play music from rock to soul, motown to reggae. Band members are Franklin King, vocals; Randy Starr, guitar/vocals; Gerald Ramal, bass; Nick Van Loon, drums; and Ryan Szainwald, keyboards.
The Sauce covers the best of ’80s and ’90s music. Band members include Rob Wexler, vocals/guitar; Jon Abrams, bass guitar; Corby Fine, drums; and James Leone, lead guitar.
Hot Mess performs original songs rooted in rock and funk. Band members are Aaron Diamond, drums; Josh Mandel, guitar; Alex Eisenberg, bass; and Jen Berk, vocals.
Jamie Gutfreund from CP24 will host the event.
The Young Hearts Campaign Cabinet is a division that was created to bridge the gap between the hospital’s current donors and future leaders and philanthropists. Page Magen, event co-chair said, “My co-chairs, Jodi Fenwick, Dave Elfan and I got involved with Young Hearts because we were inspired by the hospital and we think it is important to give back and engage a young generation of future leaders.”
For more than 110 years, Shaare Zedek Medical Center has responded to the needs of the people of Jerusalem by providing world-class health care for 500,000 patients annually. Once a 20-bed hospital on Jaffa Road back in 1902, Shaare Zedek has since transformed into a 700-bed facility with centers of excellence that treat patients of every race, religion and nationality. Known as the Hospital with a Heart, Shaare Zedek Medical Centre relies on donors around the world, as it does not receive government support for education, equipment or research.
For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://www.bandaidforacause.com/.