Great coffee and great music for a great cause

GRC members Julia and Emma, youth ambassador Ollie, and Saturday’s performers Quinn Mayer and David Stones

The Livery Yard opened its doors in the evening, inviting people to come inside, enjoy some delicious coffee and listen to some amazing music from talented local bands. July 24-26 was the weekend of Livery After Dark, and it was a weekend many came out to enjoy. 

Livery After Dark kicked off the weekend of bands on July 24 with Lauren Nelson and the students of the Folk Army, a talented group of singers, songwriters, and musicians that came together to showcase their talents. The next day, the Livery Yard welcomed Cabin Fever, a Sarnia based folk trio. They provided wonderful foot tapping songs throughout the night that made the audience think of getting lost in the forest and listening to the wind in the leaves. The weekend ended off with music and poetry from David Stone and Quinn Mayer, along with accompanying guitar from the talented Jaron Camp. The original works mixed together with the classics of slam poetry made for a moving show that kept the audience captivated until the end.

Livery After Dark was held as a fundraiser. Attendees were asked to make a donation of $10 (if able), with donations being put towards the Generation Rainbow Collective (GRC). 

The GRC is a youth-based and lead group for teens who fall within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, providing a space for kids to feel welcomed and seen. Sara Catherine works with her son Ollie – the Stratford Perth Pride youth ambassador – to create a youth program that encourages kids to try new things and be who they are.

“It's lovely to have all these people coming together to help fundraise money for queer youth, it shows just how strong we can be as a community,” Ollie stated, proud to see how many people have come together to support the organization and the arts.

While the donations are still being counted, Catherine estimates they’ve received well over $500.

“We cannot possibly measure our gratitude for the Livery Yard and all the amazing talent who participated in this event series. Support from our community is integral for our group to operate, but more importantly it shows the youth how valued they are in our community. That alone is a wonderful gift," explained Catherine.

Fundraisers like Livery After Dark are important for groups like the GRC, as it is through donations they are able to offer fun activities for the kids, take them out around the city and keep the group afloat.     

If you would like to know more about the GRC, you can check them out on social media at generationrainbowcollective on Instagram. You can also check out the Livery Yard’s Facebook or Instagram for more information about upcoming events it will be hosting.