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Sault band contributes to War Child holiday fundraiser

Just over a month ago, Facebook friends of Dustin Jones may recall him issuing a call for submissions of fun and crazy shooter names.

Just over a month ago, Facebook friends of Dustin Jones may recall him issuing a call for submissions of fun and crazy shooter names.

Little did contributers know that these alcoholic beverages would be incorporated into a Christmas song recorded for charity.

Sault Ste. Marie's Dustin Jones and the Rising Tide were among the Canadian bands invited by The Salads, a high energy ska rock band based in Toronto, to take part in a War Child holiday fundraising project.

The Rising Tide recorded a version of the holiday classic The 12 Days of Christmas (with its own special twist) for the compilation album, Christmas with The Salads and Friends, which was released by MauiWowie Records on December 6.

Chuck Dailey, bass player for The Salads and president of MauiWowie Records, told SooToday.com that both his band and the Rising Tide have always wanted to issue a Christmas album together, but neither could find the time.

So, they sent a call out to other musician friends to lend a hand.

"We sent out a mass email to our immediate musician friends we've made over the years and the response was fantastic," said Dailey. "Traditional and original versions of the songs started coming through email and blowing all of our minds!"

Dailey and the boys have been busy plugging the album through social media and various radio stations around southern Ontario, including 102.1 The Edge with Dean Bundell in Toronto.

"[Making this record] was a blast and the album has been one of the most satisfying projects we've ever produced as The Salads," said Dailey. "Our friends are all incredibly talented and we are all very lucky to have them in our lives."

The 12 Daze of Christmas video seen above was shot, directed and edited by the Sault's own Dan Nystedt in less than 48 hours to help promote the project.

Other album contributers include The Fairmounts (fronted by Sault Ste. Marie's Mikey Hawdon), IllScarlett, the Johnstones, Staylefish, King Kong Girio and of course, The Salads.

Now available for purchase worldwide on iTunes, all sale proceeds from Christmas with The Salads and Friends go to support War Child and its efforts to protect, educate and help children in nations torn apart by poverty, inequality and conflict.

The Salads have worked with War Child numerous times in the past, and consider the charity to be one of the most involved and important Canadian organizations going, especially when it comes to working with musicians.

"War Child has a long history of working with the music industry to generate awareness, support and advocacy for children's rights everywhere," Dailey told us. "They have had us on numerous shows and they are very inspiring people doing incredibly important work. Naturally it was time to give back to them."

For more information about War Child and its initiatives, please click here.


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Donna Hopper

About the Author: Donna Hopper

Donna Hopper has been a photojournalist with SooToday since 2007, and her passion for music motivates her to focus on area arts, entertainment and community events.
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