Rock 4 Santa started off in 2008 as a one-off charity show in Edmonton, Alta., organized by Looking East musicians Jadie Hunt and Steve Mardling. It was a way for local independent bands to give back to the community. They raised money for Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, Santa’s Anonymous, The Edmonton Food Bank, and Adopt-A-Teen.

This year, they expanded on the vision by adding a second show in Red Deer, aiming to raise money for the Adopt-a-Family program through the Women’s Outreach Center. Pitch Black’s managing editor Becca Stone took the helm organizing of the Red Deer show, working closely with Hunt and Mardling.

Combined, the two Rock 4 Santa shows raised more than $4,300 for Alberta charities through ticket sales, donations and a raffle for items donated by local businesses. Not bad for a bunch of hard rockers and metalheads!

“Both shows went so well,” commented Stone. “The community response was amazing, especially considering the terrible weather we had both weekends.”

The Dec. 5 Edmonton show, dubbed “A Jingle Bell Rockin’ Eve,” took place at The Pawn Shop, and attracted more than 200 music fans, in spite of the city experiencing its heaviest snowfall in six years. More than 16 centimeters fell the day before the show, with another seven of the white stuff buggering up the roads the day off. The show, which featured Six String loaded, My Sister Ocean, Lipht, Grounded Star, No Heat Tomorrow, The Order of Chaos, Looking East and Awkward Silence, and hosted by 100.3 The Bear’s Scot McCord, raised approximately $1,800 for their chosen charities.

The Red Deer show at Cheers North also attracted about 225 people who bundled up to face temperatures well below -30C. Cain & Abel and kicked off the event, which also included Of Thorn and Vine, Annunaki, Night at the Chelsea, Diesel May, Looking East, Awkward Silence and First Church of Mud. In all, the Dec. 12 “Nightmare Before Christmas,” sponsored by Red Deer radio stations Big 105 and 106.7 The Drive, raised $2,520.

And it’s looking like not only will both shows be a go again next year, but will expand once more to include Calgary.

“We already have a venue in Calgary for next year, provided we can find someone willing to take on the task of being our Calgary rep, so it could be turning into a wee Christmas tour,” Stone said. “And we have both the Edmonton and Red Deer radio stations wanting to get more involved with next year’s shows too. I can’t wait to start planning.”

Red Deer photographer Scotty Williams volunteered to photograph the Dec. 12 event, and kindly shared his photos with us so we could share them with you. Enjoy!

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