By Karen Martin-robbins ~ Sun., June 27, 2021
When Linda Nusca-Albertyn imagines the moment when she is finally able to sing in front of a live audience again, she gets choked up.
“I will feel grateful,” said the Bolton musician, who is the lead singer of Ramblin’ Soul.
She had a concert planned in March 2020 to raise money for mental health awareness, but it got cancelled when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Next month, Nusca-Albertyn will finally get her concert.
Along with Bolton Councillor Kent Oakley from Music 21, she is organizing a drive-in concert that will run from July 9 and 11 in Bolton to will raise awareness and fight the stigma of mental illness. To register for the event or more information, visit https://cantstopthemusic2021.wixsite.com/website/artists.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “I feel so much joy in my heart, something I haven’t felt in a long time.”
Back in the fall, Nusca-Albertyn tried to organize a concert to raise people’s spirits.
She found her own mental health and that of her fellow musicians were suffering with the lockdown.
Not being able to perform, and not being able to see other people and collaborate with each other, was difficult.
“It’s been brutal,” she said. But the concert kept getting rescheduled as the second wave of the pandemic took hold in Caledon.
This spring, she was able to host a virtual concert.
Although it was amazing to perform again, she said it’s not the same as being in front of a live audience.
During the upcoming drive-in event, along with music, concertgoers will get information about mental health, symptoms to watch out for and places where they can get help.
“Someone may realize that they have a symptom or recognize that one of their loved ones do. I hope it will be a way for people who may be struggling to find help,” she said.
Most of the bands performing for the concert are local or have a Caledon connection.
Acts include Ramblin’ Soul, Headliner Frank Cosentino, Rockwell Revival, Half Decent, South Pawz, Johnson's Creek, Compliments of the House, Scarecrow Lite and Time Trip.
The concert is free, but the organizers are raising money to put it on.
Nusca-Albertyn said these musicians haven’t gotten paid to perform in a long time.
The virtual tip jar for anyone interested in supporting the event or artists performing is through PayPal.
“This is so much more important than it was before,” she said. “This is about lifting spirits, building community and supporting one another.”