Lula Lounge, Toronto
Tuesday, May 20th
Doors at 7 pm
$25 -- ALL proceeds go to International Burmese Monks Organization
ticketweb.ca, lulalounge.ca

Canadian musicians are preparing to do their part to help victims of the cyclone in Burma. At the Burma Relief Concert in Toronto on Tuesday, May 20th, a stellar line-up of performers will take the stage to raise funds for survivors facing "a catastrophe of epic proportions". The concert is being produced in partnership with the Burma Cyclone Relief Committee (Toronto) and Lula Lounge.

Recent UN estimates put the cyclone's death toll at over 200 000. Relief workers are describing the situation as "apocalyptic", and warning that this may well turn out to be worse than the 2004 tsunami disaster. The lives of 1.5 million survivors are now at risk without a massive and immediate influx of aid.

All proceeds from the concert will be sent to Buddhist monks and non-governmental local aid organizations in Burma through the International Burmese Monks Organization - bypassing completely the Burmese government and their obstruction of foreign aid. Buddhist monks are the most trusted and reliable institution in the country, and have been the most effective providers of food, water, and shelter to survivors in the wake of the disaster.

About the Artists

Vocalist Aleza Coldevin and James Bryan are Sunshine State. James is one of Canada's best-respected young guitarists, producers and songwriters, having penned over a dozen top 40 hits for various artists, co-created The Philosopher Kings and Prozzak and played with a who's-who of the country's rock and pop royalty including Nelly Furtado.

Jason Collett is Toronto's man-about-town. While maintaining his membership in the more porous Broken Social Scene collective, Collett has successfully carved out a solo career that is the more intimate and rootsy counterpart to BSS's celestial art-rock. With his latest Arts & Crafts release, Here's To Being Here, Collett refuses to be bound by the confines expected of a singer-songwriter.

Over the course of a dozen years and numerous best-selling albums, virtuoso flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook has explored the limits of popular music blending African percussion, Cajun accordion, classical cello and pop vocals with his own rumba flamenco style to create a beautiful multi-textured global hybrid. Winner of a Juno Award in 2000 for his album Free Fall and nominated again in 2008, Cook has sold more than one million
albums worldwide.

Donations can be sent to:
Burma Buddhist Association of Ontario
12 High Meadow Place
Toronto, Ontario
M9L 2Z5
Phone: (416) 747-7879
Donors are requested to write cheques payable to "Burma Buddhist Association of Ontario", and mention "Burma cyclone relief" as reference memo on the cheque; and on the envelope if donation is in cash. We also request donors to provide the return mailing addresses to provide tax receipts.


For more information contact:

Jeremy Ledbetter 647-220-6222 jeremy@canefire.ca
Zaw Kyaw 416-358-2318 zaw.w.kyaw@gmail.com
Lula Lounge 416-588-0307 tracy@lula.ca