Hundreds flooded the box office at Centre 200 in Sydney on Tuesday to buy tickets for a concert to benefit those displaced by the wildfires in Fort McMurray.
“It's fabulous,” said supporter Dannie Patterson. “Good show of support and solidarity for the people of Fort Mac.”
Margaret Dupe was in line on Monday, and recently evacuated from the wildfires.
“When I heard the lineup, I was blown away,” said Dupe. “I couldn't believe the big names. Everybody is just coming together to do what everybody can to get us back on our feet.”
Comedy duo Maynard Morrison and Bette MacDonald will host the show, along with performances from Matt Minglewood, the Men of the Deeps, the Barra McNeil’s, Aaron Lewis, and Jordan Musycsyn.
Minglewood wrote a song about Maritimers heading west for work. Like many Cape Bretoners, he shares a special connection with Fort McMurray.
“Thank God it's out there, Alberta and Fort Mac in general,” said Minglewood. “Thank God for us it was there because we'd be in dire straits if it wasn't for them.”
Minglewood says the concert is now an opportunity for Cape Bretoners to come together and give back, and a much-needed distraction away from the pictures being spread over the past week.
“The show has to be a piece of entertainment,” said Minglewood. “The cause that we’re raising money for is very serious. There's nothing funny in there at all. But the show hopefully will be fun, funny and a great fundraiser.”
The show will be held Sunday at Centre 200, and is expected to sell out.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.
