Hardstock 08 -a special benefit for Scott Harding


On Feb 16 2008 at about 3 am, Scott Harding was seriously injured in a hit and run collision in NYC. He has no health insurance. He is a musician, artist and friend. 100% of the net proceeds from this show went to help him.

Hardstock 08 featured the cream of Vancouver musicians from the last 30 years.

This benefit show took place April 25 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC. It was historic. It was glorious. The rock was pushed up the hill, the pink elephant in the room was given free booze; and pigs did fly.
Headlining was a super group created for the occasion called The Hard Ones, featuring (in alphabetical order) Barney Bentall, Doug Elliot, Paul Hyde, Colin James, Simon Kendall, Colin Nairne, Craig Northey, Pat Steward...Neil Osborne, Brad Merritt and Dave Genn (from 54/40), Tom Harrison, Ra McGuire and Smitty from Trooper; The Pointed Sticks; The Jazzmanian Devils; John Mann from Spirit of the West with his son Harlan Mann; Bughouse 5; Kinnie Starr; Hardrock Miners; the Furies; I Braineater; Go Four 3, Swank and the Mike Webster band.
The show was opened by Mayor Sam Sullivan. All told we raised almost $25,000. Not bad for a 3 week promotion when they said it could not be done.
Next up.............Holy Hardstock!!! - a 3 ring circus in a Cathedral on June 13. This is a sit down family event. Bring the kids and Mom, Dad, and Grandparents. After all, Hardstock is all about people pulling together to help out.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Who Are the Hard Ones????

Who are the Hard Ones? This super group has been specially formed for the Hardstock 08 event at the Commodore. The Hard Ones include Barney Bentall and Colin Nairne from Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts; Colin James ( blues guitar superstar); Paul Hyde (from the Payola$, and Rock and Hyde); Simon Kendall (from Doug and the Slugs); and Doug Elliot and Pat Steward(ex-Bryan Adams) from the New Odds.
Did I forget someone? Yes I did. The Hardest Hard One, Mr. Craig Northey- the man with the largest.......(drumroll).....rolodex in Canadian Pop Music. Mr. Northey spoke with me a few weeks ago, and said the New Odds were unable to perform, as Murray was away. We talked, cajoled and plotted, and the result was the birth of a supergroup, made up from the friends of Craig Northey.
We judge a man by the company he keeps, and Mr. Northey keeps some pretty stellar company. More important here, Scott Harding aka Scotty Hard, works the biggest room these days, and his contacts and friends are legendary as well. There is no end of love for the man.
Now we have even more to offer with the addition of Neil Osborne and Dave Genn from the band 54/40, who will also join the Hard Ones. There may be others who have yet to confirm at this point, but any way you look at it, Hardstock 08 will be the concert event of the last 3 decades, and maybe decades to come.
Be a part of history; don't be left outside on the night of the show, wishing you had bought your tickets.

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