The National to headline Hamilton concert benefitting Syrian refugees

By: Staff –

The National.

Acclaimed Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National, will headline a concert entitled Welcome To Hamilton, which will raise funds to support programming for Syrian refugees.

The event will also feature intimate performances from Hayden, Kevin Drew, Max Kerman (of Arkells) and Terra Lightfoot, along with showcases from Crystal Journey and Mother Tareka. All participants are donating their time and talent to raise funds for music, arts and recreation programs for Syrian youth who are newcomers to Hamilton.

Hosted by Ralph Benmergui, the event will take place on Friday, June 3 at New Vision United Church (24 Main St. W., Hamilton).

Tickets to Welcome to Hamilton are $100 each, available as of 10:00am Friday, May 13 online through Ticketfly.com as well as directly from Dr. Disc (20 Wilson St., Hamilton), Revolution Records (166 Ottawa St. N., Hamilton) and 11:00am Friday, May 13 at Picks & Sticks Music (140 Locke St. S., Hamilton).

All of the event’s proceeds will go to fund music, art and recreation programs for newcomer youth in Hamilton and will be dispensed by Wesley Urban Ministries. The agency supports the resettlement of refugees and offers a range of services that assists newcomers in their settlement and integration into Canadian society.

While Syria’s civil war has raged since 2011, the crisis reached a tipping point last year, with an estimated 4.6 million Syrians displaced by conflict in their home country. The exodus represents the world’s single largest refugee crisis in almost a quarter-century, and it has challenged people around the world to help.

Canada has welcomed nearly 27,000 Syrian refugees to date, with Hamilton settling roughly 1,200 of those (more than half of whom are children). Welcome to Hamilton aims to support programs that help these newcomers feel welcomed — inclusive programming that offers newcomer youth opportunities to interact with Canadian kids.