Neil Young's 80th birthday to be celebrated at star-studded Toronto concert
The singer's birthday will be focus of Nov. 12 event at Massey Hall
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Top Canadian music acts ranging from City and Colour’s Dallas Green to Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy will gather in Toronto this fall to celebrate Neil Young’s 80th birthday.
NY80: A Celebration of Neil Young and His Music, to be held Nov. 12 at Massey Hall, will also feature performances by Kathleen Edwards, Donovan Woods, Serena Ryder, Joel Plaskett, Julian Taylor, Matt Mays, and others.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and The JUNO Awards.
The show, hosted by Tom Power, will be anchored by a house band under the direction of musician and producer Aaron Goldstein covering material from Buffalo Springfield to the Stray Gators, to Crazy Horse and more.
The 11-piece group will feature a selection of Toronto musicians and vocalists including Blue Rodeo’s Glenn Milchem, the Sheepdogs’ Shamus Currie, and indie guitar great Ian Blurton.
“I’ve wanted to stage this event for a number of years, so am excited it’s finally happening,” Howl Entertainment’s Dale Gago, the event’s organizer, said in a statement.
“Neil Young is one of our greatest artists, and I’m grateful all of these amazing musicians are going to take the stage together to celebrate him on his 80th birthday. And what better setting than Massey Hall. We’re looking forward to raising money for such a great charity like MusiCounts.”
Born in Toronto on Nov. 12, 1945, Young first gained fame in the 1960’s as a member of Buffalo Springfield, then as a solo artist and member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and often backed by the band Crazy Horse.
He recently played two shows at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage this summer.
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