The Stanfields (Jason MacIsaac, Jon Landry, Calen Kinney, Dillan Tate, and Mark Murphy)
High-energy Celtic rock, hilarious antics, and rousing good times. The Stanfields possess all the traits of a classic east coast kitchen party. And while the multi-award-winning Nova Scotia band has rocked the walls and cupboards of many a kitchen, their next one will be one to remember.
“Honestly, this band has existed on the the shoulders of many people who have given their time and energy to get us where we are today,” says Jon Landry, Lead Vocals/Guitar for The Stanfields. “I can think of many occasions where we needed support and people of their own volition jumped in to help.”
Every single time Jon and the boys (Jason MacIsaac, Calen Kinney, Dillan Tate, and Mark Murphy) get on stage, they give their fans all they’ve got from start to finish. Now The Stanfields are putting that same energy into supporting Nova Scotians living with mental illness and addiction. The five-piece ‘folk n’ roll’ band is offering up a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be auctioned off at the Compass Group Canada Festival of Trees RBC Black Tie Gala: A Kitchen Party with The Stanfields.
“It’s about using our abilities to help others when they need it,” says Landry. “There’s nothing that gives us more satisfaction than being able to use our talents to help, and when I asked these guys, all of them were like, Yes, absolutely. Without hesitation.”
Mental health is top of mind for many in the East Coast music industry. From living with mental illness to being at risk for substance-abuse disorders, the ECMA Mental Health Survey recently illustrated a disproportionate number of music industry professionals are dealing with mental health issues. Perhaps the most alarming result was the rate of suicidal thoughts- more than 6 times higher than the national average.
“Within our community, it’s an ongoing issue because our business is not a normal one. There's this constant ebb and flow of success and failure,” says Landry. “On the surface, it's easy to think that it’s all fun and games, but that’s about five per cent of the time. Ninety-five per cent of it is a lot of work, struggle, and compromise between a really strange profession and trying to establish some normalcy in our lives and personal relationships.”
A Kitchen Party with The Stanfields will feature a lively and unbelievably fun performance for the highest bidder. The package comes complete with food and beverage for twenty-five of their closest friends plus the bragging rights of having one of Nova Scotia’s most dynamic live bands right in the heart of their own home. A Kitchen Party with The Stanfields will be up for bid at the RBC Black Tie Gala Live Auction, Saturday, November 23. For more information or for tickets visit mentalhealthns.ca/festival-of-trees.
Have a listen to The Stanfields latest single, Breakers in the Dark, Catch them live on tour throughout the Maritimes November 14-24, or at their Classic Fadeout Album Release Show February 8th at the Marquee Ballroom.