It’s been more than two years since the Sapperton Brothers have taken to the stage. Now they’re getting set to do so again to help a humanitarian cause.
The New Westminster band will be serving up its Americana music – blending country, rock’n’roll, blues and roots — at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall on Saturday, June 4. The concert is in support of the efforts of a group of private citizens to bring two Somalian refugee families to Canada.
A press release notes the journey began in the winter of 2019, when a group of residents, including the lead singer of the band, committed to sponsor their friend Abdi’s extended family from Somalia.
Abdi himself was a refugee 30 years ago; now, his wife’s family needs help. They had to flee Somalia because of extortion, threatened violence and danger to their teen children. So the family of 10 — two sets of parents, four young girls and two young men — found refuge in Uganda, where they have been granted refugee status by the UN.
To bring the two families to Canada and support them in their first year as new Canadians, a group of New West community members started a campaign to raise the required $60,000.
Raising that money in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy.
There were application delays and backups in government processing. Restrictions on gathering made fundraising nearly impossible. But the group persevered and, in September 2020, applied to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to sponsor the families. In May 2021, they learned the application was successful.
The group is continuing to fundraise to help the two families get to Canada, get settled and adapt to their new lives.
“We have raised nearly $25,000 in these last two difficult years of COVID restrictions,” said Craig Martin, the Sapperton Brothers’ lead singer and resident of Sapperton.
“There is much work still to be done, but securing a future of hope, education and peace for these two families energizes our efforts and solidifies our resolve. It seemed natural for the Sapperton Brothers to lend a hand to this great cause. It wasn’t hard to convince the other members of the band.”
Audiences will be able to enjoy the talents of Martin and his bandmates — including his brothers, Steve (drums) and Scott (lap steel/keys), plus Mitch Lemke (guitar/mandolin) and Will Nutter (upright and electric bass) — as they uphold the band motto “making good music about bad decisions.”
Their live show is a mix of original music from their first album, released independently in 2020, combined with classic country covers and Americana gems.
You can catch them onstage at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall, 318 Keary St., on Saturday, June 4 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. The night includes a plant sale, games and prizes.
Tickets are $20 apiece, and the venue requires proof of vaccination. For advance tickets, email [email protected]. You can find more information at the Sapperton Brothers website.
