From downward-facing dog to country riffs and vocals, the Yoga and Country Music Concert fundraiser Oct. 13 will provide guests with an eclectic way to raise money for a good cause. Rocky View County’s own Julianna Laine is hosting the fundraiser at Junction 9 Yoga and Pilates in Calgary to raise money for Love for Lewiston, a charity that supports families of children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare neuromuscular disease. Laine, 21, an aspiring county music singer/songwriter based just outside of Cochrane, said she decided to hold the fundraiser because the Love for Lewiston foundation is quite well known in the yoga and fitness community – a community she is a part of. “Lewiston’s mom is really involved in the Lululemon community, and I work there part time,” she said. “Lewiston was a little boy who passed away from SMA. The foundation donates to the Alberta Children’s Hospital and works to find a cure. I really wanted to do something for them.” Collaborating with Junction 9 also fit with the foundation’s mandate of including an active component in its fundraising events, she added. “For me, music is my thing, and that’s how I can contribute and make it a special event,” she said. “I wanted to do something that aligned with that foundation and something that’s special to me, too.” It’s been a busy summer and fall for Laine, who is one of 12 finalists in the Project WILD Country Artist Development program. The program is funded by WILD 95.3 FM in Calgary and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, which has provided $4.9 million in funding for Project WILD over seven years. “It’s about a six-month artist development program,” Laine said. “The 12 finalists go through the program, [which] is designed to launch an artist’s career.” The musicians learn about all sides of the industry through a series of boot camps, she added, including information about royalties, taxes and financial planning and promotion. The artists also perform at a series of showcases and are provided with feedback from industry leaders. Project WILD winds up in November, when prizes will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place finishers. Laine’s fundraiser at Junction 9 runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13. A 60-minute yoga class will be followed by a half-hour concert and mix-and-mingle. Tickets to the event are $25 and are available from the Junction 9 website, junction9.ca
