On the heels of B.C. band Spirit of the West’s successful documentary Spirit Unforgettable — it came in third out of 200+ movies at this year’s Hot Docs Documentary Film Festival — lead singer John Mann, who’s battling Alzheimer’s disease, will be performing at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto’s Music Project: The Spirit of John.
On June 2 at Toronto’s legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Mann, along with other Canadian artists, will be hitting the stage to support those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The proceeds will be used for local programs and services provided by the Alzheimer Society.
Aside from two additional members of Spirit of the West (who’ll be joining Mann onstage), other artists include Jim Cuddy, Molly Johnson, Royal Wood, Tom Wilson, Chris Tait from Chalk Circle, Tomi Swick and Michelle Willis.
In 2014 at the age of 51, Mann announced that he’d been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and while the band continued to tour, his condition deteriorated and they had to come up with inventive methods to keep Mann performing. Jill Daum, Mann’s longtime wife, along with Mann’s bandmates, have done their best to adjust to the changing landscape and not separate Mann from his true talent and love: the music.
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This is the second time Mann has performed at the Music Project, which helps spread the idea of music therapy, proven to calm those with the disease if they become agitated. Music has been known to trigger memories from the past and provide a form of self-expression. Concertgoers will be participating in the first-ever Fund A Need, which aims to raise enough money to supply iPods for a month for those with dementia.
Of course, Daum can’t say whether this will be Mann’s last onstage performance. He’s playing for approximately 30 minutes.
“I don’t know if this’ll be it,” said Daum. “They’re hoping he can show up again next year, but one never knows. In our minds… never say never. It’s an opportunity, that’s for sure, for people in Toronto. John and those guys haven’t been there since Massey Hall, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever get that band of brothers together again.”
You can secure tickets (better hurry, it’s almost sold out!) through Horseshoe Tavern or at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto site. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. on June 2, 2016.
CORRECTION NOTICE: An earlier version of this article stated that Spirit Unforgettable came in fifth at Hot Docs. The documentary came in third. This article has been edited to reflect that.
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