The River Street Promotions team is over the moon after Saturday’s Homestand ’24 charity concert sold out every ticket. The event raises money primarily for youth mental wellness in both Prairie South and Holy Trinity Catholic School Divisions, covering most of south Saskatchewan.
Funds are also donated to the maintenance and beautification of Ross Wells Ballpark, where the concert is held. Upkeep of the ballpark provides a direct way to contribute to the area that hosts the event, and keeps a valuable local sports center open for Moose Javians to enjoy.
It was still sunny and above 30 degrees when Saturday’s concert started at 4 p.m. with Trick Ryder, followed by Belle Plaine, The Steadies, and Doc Walker. Headliners 54-40 started their set after dark at 8:15, and wildly popular Toque closed the night out at 10 p.m.
Rob Carnie from CHAB800 emcee'd, and Country100's Courtney Fielder took the stage by special request to introduce Doc Walker.
This is thefourth edition of the concert, which continues to grow. Homestand ’21 raised $50,000, Homestand ’22 raised $85,000, and Homestand ’23 raised $150,000. Organizers are confident 2024’s funds will be proportionate to its success.
Randy Orange and his wife Cyndi Jeffery came from Langham to hear Toque, specifically, but they’ve seen The Steadies before, too, and are also big fans of 54-40.
“We always go to Rock the River in Saskatoon. We love it, and we heard about this band called Toque that played there,” Orange explained.
“And I thought I knew every rock-and-roll band in the history of rock and roll, but apparently I didn’t, because I had to Google them … and I said, wow, these guys are going to be good. And we just loved them, they were the best band at Rock the River.”
“A couple of the band members are from Saskatchewan,” Jeffery said. "We like to support local music, and I’m from Weyburn, so I have to come see these guys, for sure.
“This is our first year (at Homestand). Our son and daughter-in-law live here in Moose Jaw, so, we wanted to come support this music festival.”
“It’s a singular event,” Belle Plaine said after her set. “The attention to detail for artists and for the audience and for the sponsors. There’s such thought put into how the areas are going to flow and where people are going to congregate and just making it this wholesome experience that you’re immersed in.
“I have been to a lot of festivals, and this is one-of-a-kind, truly.”
Ward Strueby, Director of Education for Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, was able to attend the concert for the first time in a couple of years. He said it’s “absolutely phenomenal” to have a group of people in Moose Jaw who love music and fun events organizing a festival for a cause.
“In our school division, it’s helped us bring in speakers on mental health and wellbeing, it’s allowed kids to participate in activities they wouldn’t (otherwise) be exposed to, like bringing in a First Nations artist and doing work alongside him and then sharing that work back out to their parents.
“We’re really able to expand on the activities and programming that we’re doing in our schools.”
Volunteering at the event for the first time, Cori Storozuk said she was impressed and happy to have such a beautiful day.
“What a fantastic cause, I mean, I couldn’t be more passionate about helping youth in the community,” Storozuk said. “Why not do it? People want to come out and have fun and support it.
“People are just so happy to be here, we love the weather like, and you can’t go three feet without seeing someone you know. It’s perfect.”