welcome concert preview

DAVID USHER TO HEADLINE "WELCOME CONCERT" - TORONTO WATERFRONT MARATHON

Author: Unknown - News release
Source: Toronton Waterfront Marathon
URL: www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com
Date: August 30, 2006

The organizers of the 7th Annual Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon today announced that Canadian icon David Usher will headline their "Welcome Concert," to be held Friday evening, September 22nd, in Nathan Phillips [City Hall] Square. Mayor David Miller will introduce the show at 6pm, and officially declare Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon weekend "open". The concert is free and open to the public.

One of Canada's premiere songwriters and performers, David Usher has enjoyed a celebrated career as a solo artist and a member of Moist. His multi-platinum album sales are in excess of 1.2 million units in Canada, and he's been recognized with several Juno and MuchMusic Video awards. He grew up and went to High School in Kingston, Ontario, then took a Political Science degree at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. From university days, throughout the '90s, he was the front man for Moist, before moving onto his solo career with 4 albums: Little Songs in 1998: Morning Orbit 2001; Hallucinations 2003; and If God Had Curves released in April 2005. David currently lives with his family in New York City.

His background with a university professor and Montreal Jewish father, a Thai Buddhist and artist mother, and his own political science education make David a quintessential, multicultural Canadian and a man with an intelligent message.

His last album [If God Had Curves], is a vivid series of reflections from an artist who embraces change in his own life as a means of cultivating new perspective and inspiration. "I've been interested over the past couple of years in the idea that society is becoming increasingly divided and diverse along rigid lines. Whether you're religious or not, we have become intolerant and inflexible of each other's ideas. Somewhere between the secular and religious world we need to find common ground and a way we can live together."

David will be in the studio for the months of September and October recording his new album which is scheduled to be released early in 2007. The new album is co-produced with long time collaborator Byron Wong (Crystal Method), and a new collaboration with Brian Malouf (Madonna, Pink and Michael Jackson). David recently contributed his version of the John Lennon song Watching The Wheels in support of the "Make Some Noise" campaign for Amnesty International. He also continues to support Make Poverty History, Warchild and other charities.

"With his multicultural background, and his current interests, we couldn't think of a better artist to welcome our 10,000+ runners from more than 30 countries around the world, to Toronto. I can't think of two better things than sport and music to bring people together," said Race Director Alan Brookes.

The David Usher concert is also an effort by the organizers to reach out into the community and appeal to spectators, not just participants for the Waterfront Marathon, Half-marathon and 5K. This is a major trend in world marathons, but a first in Canada.

Besides the David Usher show, there is an OASIS Neighbourhood Challenge on marathon day, that features music and performers at 10 neighbourhood entertainment and cheering centres along the 42km route. "Our event has really become a weekend festival," said Brookes. "It's not just about a bunch of skinny eccentrics running around the city in their underwear on a Sunday morning. This is a community celebration. It's a celebration of personal achievement, of fundraising—with the $750,000 that the runners will raise for 50 local charities, and simply a whole lot of fun. There's lots of great music, performers such as the acrobats and jugglers from Zero Gravirty Circus, and Toronto's great multicultural food everywhere, throughout the weekend!"

There is also a two-day "running show", the Oasis Running, Health & Fitness Expo on Friday September 22nd and Saturday the 23rd, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front Street. Again, it is free and open to the public, with 65,000 square feet of exhibits, running footwear and apparel bargains, samples, the latest fitness technology, guest speakers and more!

A 48-page Spectator Guide will be available at Scotiabank branches in the GTA after Labour Day, as well as at the Concert and Expo on Marathon Weekend.

For all the information on music, entertainment and running on Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Weekend, see http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/

For more David Usher, including songs, visit http://myspace.com/davidushermusic.

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