The next 1st Tuesday Fundraiser sponsored by the Mex Pub will be held June 5, with guest performers Watershed, John Brown and Jane Dunnett, raising funds for the Kus Kus Sum Project.
Kus Kus Sum is a joint project of Project Watershed and the K’omoks First Nation. The funds raised will assist in the purchase and restoration of the old Fields Sawmill site on Dyke Road at 17th Street.
This ambitious endeavour is named Kus-Kus-sum in honour of a First Nations village that was in the vicinity.
The site on the Courtenay River at the 17 Street Bridge will be restored to a naturally sloping riverbank planted with native species from the eelgrass and sedges at the water level to the shrubs and Sitka spruce closer to Comox/Dyke Road.
The total cost for purchase and restoration of this 8.3 acre industrial site is $6.5 million.
Watershed is an evolving group of environmentally-conscientious musicians. Originally motivated by a request from Project Watershed looking for performers to assist in fundraising, Dunnett and Brown began by collaborating last spring with Scott Lyle on bass and Ian McGlynn on fiddle and guitar.
Brown first picked up the guitar at the age of 13 and started singing an eclectic mix of ballads, folk classics, folk rock, swing, blues and originals. With his tenor voice, guitar and harmonica, you’ll hear the influences of songwriters such as Gordon Lightfoot, Valdy, Crosby Stills and Nash, and Neil Young.
A resident of Royston, Brown enjoys the music community in the Comox Valley by singing in the Just In Time choir, participating in the Singalong group that visits seniors’ villages in the Valley and playing open mics.
Singing and strumming have always been a part of Dunnett’s life.
She loves blending her voice with others and has sung for the past several years in Just in Time Choir’s ‘Jems’ group.
For the past year, she has also enjoyed collaborating with Brown and other musical friends, performing songs which honour the natural world, and especially local waters.
The Comox Valley Food Bank Society (CVFS) — a regular at the event — will be on site to accept food donations for Valley families who are in need.
The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. with a few tunes by hosts, Coast to Coast, Scott Lyle, Lainie Laughlin and Corey Francis.