When something bad happens in Owen Sound, everyone knows about it before the day is over. Sometimes they know before the bad thing is over.
Such was the case several weeks ago when we awoke to the blazing carnage of fifteen burning households. Before breakfast most of the town knew, by lunch time you couldn't find a table at a restaurant or coffee shop that wasn't preset to discussing the loss and the damage and the shock ...
But this town knows more than trouble, this town knows hope and charity and perseverance. Several months ago when another fire destroyed two homes side by side, the music community made haste to create a benefit concert to help one of their own. But they didn't restrict their assistance to the musician who had lost his home. At his request they included the other household that had suffered the same loss.
And everyone in this town knows that lightning like that strikes more than twice in the same place. Fundraisers and donations for the fifteen households have already raised money, provided clothing and made sure no one was without a place to stay.
And the music community?
Everyone in this town knows that part of our music community has already been heard from at a fund raiser on August 22nd at a venue where two of the people affected by these fires work. Kudos to them and their speedy organization, Bravo for managing a great and worthy effort even on the weekend of Owen Sound's most notable music festival, Summerfolk. And then, the Noon Hour Concert Series group added their classical touch at their season's evening finale.
But everyone knows that they haven't heard the last from this town's music community. And they will hear from them on Thursday night, when an outstanding musical lineup that includes RPR, The Krueger Band with the Krueger Girls, Dirty Mack, Larry Jensen and Friends, Chicks with picks, Rob Elder, Bob Robinson, The Swampstompers, Hot Black Coffee, Robert Menzies, The Eighth Street Orchestra, The Honey Hammers, Paul Danard, Emma Wright, and the Ted's Range Road Jamm Band take their turns at the Legion to trade their songs for this town's generous donations to the United Way's fund to benefit those fifteen households.

Everyone knows that this is the sort of thing that goes on in this town. If you want to experience what everyone knows, you're more than welcome to attend "The Power Of Love" Fire Relief Benefit and find out what our musical community is capable of when they get going.
Everyone in this town knows that this town doesn't take trouble lying down. Everyone in this town knows. Everyone knows.