Blue Rodeo live at Meridian Centre – November 6, 2015 – bands help raise money and awareness for Light of Day Niagara

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Joel Naphin

DSC_2555_02 — Actor Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos) along with 91.7 Giant FM’s Brian Salmon hosting the Light of Day Niagara benefit concert at the Meridian Centre on November 6, 2015. PHOTO CREDIT: Joel Naphin

(St. Catharines, ON) – It was a night of great music to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease during the ninth annual Light of Day benefit concert held at the Meridian Centre on Nov. 6, 2015. The show, which drew about 4,000 people, was headlined by Canadian favourites Blue Rodeo, who recently released their latest album, Live at Massey Hall.

Also on the bill were Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son (from New Jersey), Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls from Los Angeles, Miss Emily from Kingston, Ontario, Joe D’Urso and Stone Caravan and Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers.

Actor Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos) hosted the show along with 91.7 Giant FM’s Brian Salmon.

This was my first time in this venue and I must say, I was impressed! The show got underway about 7 p.m. with each band playing a short set.

Then around 9 p.m. Blue Rodeo came out to play for about two hours (including a three-song encore) playing all crowd favourites. Singer Jim Cuddy came out on crutches and had his right leg in a cast. He spent the show sitting down and performing.

The concert raised about $80,000. All the money raised from the Light of Day concerts and events go directly to the Light of Day Foundation (New Jersey), Parkinson’s Canada (Northern and Central Ontario), the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Hotel Dieu Shaver: Steve Ludzik Parkinson’s Clinic.

Light of Day has another benefit on Saturday, November 14 in Kingston, Ontario. This show will be headlined by The Northern Pikes along with the same artists plus Gord Sinclair and Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip who will be joining Miss Emily.

For more information on Light of Day Kingston concert click here.

For more information on Light of Day Niagara click here.