Newmarket band Glenn Marais and The Mojo Train will be taking their talents to Memphis in January to perform at the International Blues Competition and locals want to give it a boost.
Having won their region to qualify, the band will be representing the Grand River Blues Society and competing on the international stage against artists from around the world. To help the band's fundraising campaign, Market Brewing is hosting a fundraising night Nov. 25.
“It was important to support Glenn and the band because they are just awesome guys who give back so much and ask for so little in return – on top of being an amazing band,” said Bill Gianopoulos, Market Brewing taproom manager. “This is an amazing opportunity for the band and we just wanted to help out however we could.”
To get to Memphis, the band started The Mojo to Memphis fundraiser with a goal of raising $20,000 to finish recording their new record and to get down to Tennessee for the competition.
Market Brewing decide to help given how much fundraising Marais and the band have done for the Newmarket community in the past. As a result, it has teamed up with Marais (guitar/vocals), Manny DeGrandis (bass), Jesse Karwat (keys/vocals) and Jeff Saulner (drums) to help ensure they reach their goal of getting to Memphis.
The Market Brewing team figured it would be perfect given Marais’ and DeGrandis’ MusicCan charity, which purchases instruments for youth and helps provide them with lessons, was the charity of the month for November Market Brewing's Thursday Bingo Nights.
The bingo nights from November 2022 and so far in 2023 have helped raise over $6,000 towards MusicCan and now Market Brewing wants to help get the band down south for the competition by hosting a fundraiser Nov. 25.
Market Brewing, 17775 Leslie St. Unit 9, is selling $20 tickets to the event with a large portion going directly to the band and there will be a raffle/silent auction with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to The Mojo Train.
The band plays Market Brewing’s New Years Eve and anniversary parties every year and Gianopoulos said there is always a huge following every time they play.
“They are pillars of our community and it's nice to see everyone coming together to support them,” he said.
To take it one step further, Newmarket's Neighborhood Brewery is also releasing a limited edition 'Mojo to Memphis Lagered Ale' to help increase awareness of their journey.
“We know the guys in the band enjoy our lagers and lighter options so we figured if we're going to make a beer supporting the band... let's make it a beer that they enjoy too,” said Gianopoulos.
Gianopoulos said these special releases for organizations and events in the community are something they love doing and know it goes over well to help with promoting awareness for great initiatives.
That is also part of the reason Market Brewing designed its space to be a community-hub that is all inclusive for everyone to come and have fun and feel comfortable, Gianopoulos said.
“We are a part of a special community with amazing individuals, charitable organizations, artists, entrepreneurs and just really nice people and we feel we need to do our part to give back,” he said. “We do it because we love to. Not for social media likes or photo ops, just because we love supporting the great people in this community. It's what we do.”
The Market Brewing team said they’re proud to support The Mojo Train on their “epic and deserving” journey to Memphis and the two have a history of working together to do good things in the community while also just having some fun too.
The night will also include a sneak peak at the set The Mojo Train will be playing in Memphis in January. Tickets are available for Saturday, Nov. 25, with doors at 7 p.m. and the 'Mojo to Memphis Lagered Ale' is now available to purchase.
