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one really big no
To protest the invasion of Iraq, the newly created Artists Against the War organization and the Coalition to Stop the War are staging the One Big No peace festival at Nathan Phillips Square Saturday (April 12) from 1 to 11 pm (for more details, see ad, page 14).
The concert portion of the event, hosted by CBC Newsworld’s Jian Ghomeshi and sponsored by NOW, will feature performances by the Cowboy Junkies, Sarah Harmer, the Lowest of the Low, King Cobb Steelie, Lillian Allen, Women Ah Run Tings, the Rheostatics, Lorraine Segato and many others. It’s shaping up to be a massive gathering.
Considering that it’s been just three weeks since the conflict began, the enormous getdown has come together in record time. Ghomeshi attributes that to the heartfelt dedication to the anti-war cause of both the artists and organizers.
“I’ve been involved with benefit concerts before,” says Artists Against the War member Ghomeshi, “and when an artist’s participation is requested, the response is often ‘Who else will be performing?’ But when I started calling up people I knew to see who wanted to be involved in this event, there was none of that. It was, like, ‘I’m in! Tell me when and where you want me to be and I’m there.’
“I think in this case everyone understands the importance of the cause and appreciates the urgency of what we’re doing. Even though the Barenaked Ladies weren’t able to perform, they were ready to provide a song for the accompanying One Big No CD.”
Joining the Barenaked Ladies on the One Big No benefit disc will be many of the night’s performers, along with Chris Brown and Kate Fenner, Emm Gryner, By Divine Right, Veal, the Eines and others. The 19-track CD sells for $15 and will be available at the event.
