Kenn Rowell Interviewed About Blank-Fest Quebec on CKUT-FM in February, 2009

Blank-Fest is an annual non-profile benefit show which is held each December since 1997 to raise blankets and public awareness for the homeless. Founded, organized and MC'd by NYC-based singer-songwriter Kenn Rowell (of The Baghdaddios) - along with fellow New York songwriters Chuck DeBruyn (of The Horse You Rode In On) and Joe D'Urso (of Stone Caravan) - the benefit charges NO money at the door, suggesting only one blanket per person as a price of admission. These blankets are then distributed by Mr. Rowell, along with several volunteers, starting on Christmas Eve and at random times throughout the Winter as supplies allow. Variations of this concept/benefit have taken flight in the form of satellite Blank-Fest shows in New Jersey, Racine, WI, Florida, Richmond, VA and in Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City. In Canada the show has been held in Guelph, Toronto (Ontario) and in Montreal (Quebec). In the UK the show has been held in Nottingham, England.

This YouTube video is the audio from an interview with Kenn Rowell on Montreal's CKUT 90.3 FM on that station's Rock & Roll Report / Drastic Plastic show, on the occasion of the first-ever Blank-Fest Quebec. This aired, live, only a few nights before the concert, which raised over 500 total donations on Saturday, February 21, 2009. Also heard, in studio: Blank-Fest Quebec organizer and promoter Jon Asher of Asher Media Relations in Montreal. Kenn is calling in from the lobby of his apartment building in Brooklyn Heights, NY. Since no video of this interview exists, the visual part of this YouTube presentation consists entirely of pics from past Blank-Fest shows in NY and elsewhere, related artwork (show posters), related print and online articles and related or random images employed to highlight relevant points. Most pics of Kenn, used here, were from a recent photo shoot (January, 2011) by NYC-based photographer Rick Poston.

Special note should be made to images at approximately 6:12 (Prince Hal and Johnny Law of the popular Lower East Side-based indie group The Statues of Liberty; themselves frequent contributors to past Blank-Fest shows) and at 9:45 (which shows fellow Blank-Fest founder Chuck DeBruyn along with Mike Garner, Kevin Lacy and Frankie Dee from the funk-soul combo Frankie D and The Boys), along with Rowell.

This video was created to commemorate Blank-Fest Quebec's upcoming 2nd Anniversary - which will feature an appearance by Rowell's band, The Baghdaddios at Blank-Fest Quebec III, which will be held at the Katacombes in Montreal on Friday evening, February 25, 2011 - from 9:00 PM until 3:00 AM (on the morning of Saturday, the 26th).

Special mention should go to the bands that played that first-ever Blank-Fest show in Montreal: Special Ops, Vinyl Hero, Ashtray and Fifty Stars Anger. An extra-special "thank you" to them for their generous contribution at the very beginning!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• homeless
• Blank-Fest
• Montreal QC
• Quebec
• CKUT
• 90.3 FM
• interview
• radio
• Kenn Rowell
• February 2009
• Jon Asher
• Asher Media Relations
• The Baghdaddios
• indie
• D.I.Y.
• independent
• Canada
• Brooklyn
• NY
• NYC
• New York City
• Lower East Side
• less fortunate
• help
• benefit
• charity
• non-profit
• activism
• social
• rock 'n roll
• Special Ops
• Vinyl Hero
• Ashtray
• Fifty Stars Anger

[Baghdaddio]

@JoneseyMustDie Ah, you've been paying attention. Thank ya', Brutha!

[Baghdaddio]

@HolidayPunk01 Yes, man. Asher IS the man (we're proud to know him!).

[HolidayPunk01]

Once again, Metal and Punk is showing the way. Great going, Asher! You're a true humanitarian!

[JoneseyMustDie]

And to think, this all started, 15 years ago, with 18 blankets in NY. Awesome!