This February and March Big Brothers Big Sisters and Canadian award-winning singer-songwriter Tara Shannon will present The “Big” Tour across Ontario. Tickets are available at www.tarashannonmusic.com. 100% of ticket sales will benefit each of the 11 local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies and approximately 1,500 ‘littles’ province-wide.
“I got to know Big Brothers Big Sisters when I came on board as the Ambassador for the Morguard Be You Girl Campaign. I loved everything about their programs and mission statement from the onset and couldn’t believe they had been around for over 100 years which says so much,” said Tara Shannon. “Mentoring is a core function of the work I do as a business consultant, label owner and mother of seven so it’s a natural fit for me and the power of mentoring cannot be overstated – it is truly life changing.”
Tara will be joined on tour with one of her very own artists that she has had an impressive hand in mentoring, Jessica Pearson and The Eastwind. There will be a local artist or band from each city that will open for Tara Shannon and Jessica Pearson and The East Wind in their hometown, giving an incredible opportunity for talented local musicians.
“I was fortunate to have wonderful mentors along the way in my own life and so the opportunity to give back and support an organization I fundamentally believe in is such a joy. I was so happy BBBS was just as excited about this tour model and jumped on board. It’s a wonderful way to provide a turnkey fundraising event for the agencies while connecting my music with new fans.”
Changing the course of young lives changes the future of communities, by every measure, Big Brothers Big Sisters returns positive results in the mental health, employment and civic engagement of the recipients of their mentoring program. A 2013 study by Boston Consulting Group found that, for every $1 invested in mentoring by Big Brothers Big Sisters, there is an $18 social return on investment to the community. This means that the $25,000 raised through the Mentoring In Motion Tour becomes $450,000 as each Little Brother and Sister develop into productive members of society who understand the value of giving back.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ontario are grateful to Tara Shannon for choosing to put her talents to work in support of children and youth through The “Big” Tour,” said Susan Ingram, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa. “The proceeds from each and every show will be put to work right away in the 11 participating communities — Helping to ignite power and potential in youth across Ontario. Tara has been a long-time supporter of our work and knows the important role mentorship plays in helping the next generation.”
THE “BIG” TOUR – DATES:
Thur. February 27 – Urban Abbey – Thunder Bay
Sat. February 29 – Sudbury Secondary School – Sudbury
Tues. March 3 – Georgian Bay District SS – Midland
Thur. March 5 – Fergus Grand Theatre – Fergus
Fri. March 6 – Paul Davenport Theatre – London
Sat. March 7 – Rock Star Music Hall – Windsor
Sun. March 8 – Rose City Kids Theatre – Welland
Mon. March 9 – Town Hall Theatre – Port Perry
Tues. March 10 – The Renaissance – Kingston
Wed. March 11 – National Arts Centre – Ottawa
ABOUT TARA SHANNON:
Tara Shannon is a Canadian award-winning singer-songwriter from Russell, ON. Shannon’s current single ‘Mutha’ made the Top 5 Downloads and Streams across US radio first week out where it is currently charting and also debuted at #2 Indie Downloads across Canada.
Her new album ‘Where the Light Comes In’ was released in November 2019 with a performance at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was recently nominated for Album of the Year by Faces Magazine Ottawa.
As the co-founder of the TIF Group of Companies, which includes Willow Sound Records, she has shared her training and experience in leadership management and entrepreneurship hosting numerous workshops as well as attending speaking engagements at events across Canada including the G20 Summit.
As the mother of seven, she is passionate about youth and developing their potential which is why supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters with this endeavour is a natural fit.
Alongside her natural talent and dedication to her musical craft, Shannon is also well known for supporting and giving a voice towards local and national charitable campaigns.
For both her musical and charitable endeavours, Shannon has been featured in media across North America including Etalk, Global’s The Morning Show, CBC’s All in Day, CP24 Breakfast, Sirius XM’s Ward and Al, and many more. Shannon also had the opportunity to host American hit TV show Country Fix in 2017, a CJM Production that airs in more than 100 million households worldwide on networks including Heartland, The Family Channel, and more.
ABOUT JESSICA PEARSON AND THE EASTWIND:
Jessica Pearson is a Canadian born storyteller with a voice like melting honey on a summers eve. Accompanied by Kristan Couture on the mandolin and Maddy O’Regan on the fiddle, they bring to life tales of the past and express the beauty and heartbreak of the world today.
In 2017 they released their debut EP ‘Grave and Garden Songs’ to a sold out crowd at LIVE! On Elgin. Playing over 80 shows a year in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom, they have been writing songs and collecting stories from all over the world.
Jessica Pearson and the East Wind have recently signed to Willow Sound Records and Syndicut Music Publishing with Jessica’s first cut on Joe Diffie’s single ‘As Long As There’s A Bar’. They are currently working on their first full length album to be released in 2020.
Their music blends folk, roots and East Coast bluegrass to create a unique sound of their own. From a cappella tunes sung in the middle of the audience to recollections of growing up in Canada, Jessica Pearson and the East Wind will take you on a journey with their dynamic live shows and entertaining story telling.
www.jessicapearsoneastwind.com
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