Canadian indie fights cancer

By Nick Jean

It seems 2016 is the year of the epic tour. As we previously announced, Lauren Mann is working on a 50-date tour with stops literally all across the country. Not to be outdone, Arkells have released a massive slew of dates.

Over the next six months, the Hamilton rockers will be making 31 stops in six provinces, 13 states and stints overseas in Britain and Germany. (See the end of this post for the full schedule.) And as if that weren’t enough, they kicked it all off with a private show earlier this month. This wasn’t just any old house show, however.

The recipients were the friends and family of 18-year-old Jill Zitars (as well as Zitars herself, of course.) Zitars is partway through her treatment for stage two Hodgkin’s lymphoma. July 6 was supposed to be her halfway point for treatment. Instead, doctors informed her things weren’t going quite as planned and they would need to reassess. The Waterloo, Ont., teen was understandably quite shaken by the news.

In an attempt to lift her spirits, her friend Kristin Kelly reached out to Arkells over Snapchat, explaining the situation and asking them to pay a visit. Three members of the band – Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis and Anthony Carone – did just that, performing an acoustic backyard set for Zitars.

“I was so shocked and overjoyed at the same time,” Zitars told CBC of the event. “My friends were amazing.”

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Tour Dates

07.23.2016 – Oro-Medonte, Ontario – WayHome Music Festival

07.24.2016 – Colwood, British Columbia – Rock The Shores

07.28.2016 – Chicago, Illinois – Grant Park – Lollapalooza

& Bottom Lounge – Official Lollapalooza Aftershow w/ The Struts

07.30.2016 – New Glasgow, Nova Scotia – The Riverfront Jubilee

08.01.2016 – St. Johns, Newfoundland – George Street Festival

08.06.2016 – Regina, Saskatchewan – Queen City Ex

08.21.2016 – Leipzig, Saxony – Highfield Festival in Grosspösna, Germany

08.23.2016 – London, Middlesex – Lexington

08.25.2016 – Ubersee, Bavaria – Chiemsee Summer Festival

09.03.2016 – Edmonton, Alberta – Borden Park – SONiC BOOM

09.04.2016 – Calgary, Alberta – Fort Calgary – X FEST

09.09.2016 – Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario – Jackson Triggs Theatre

09.15.2016 – New York, New York – Studio At Webster Hall

09.23.2016 – Reading, Pennsylvania – Reverb – w/ Frank Turner

09.27.2016 – Champaign, Illinois – The Accord – w/ Frank Turner

09.28.2016 – St. Louis, Missouri – The Ready Room – w/ Frank Turner

09.29.2016 – Maquoketa, Iowa – Codfish Hollow Barnstormers – w/ Frank Turner

09.30.2016 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – The Rave / Eagles Club – w/ Frank Turner

10.01.2016 – Kalamazoo, Michigan – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe – w/ Frank Turner

10.27.2016 – Athens, Georgia – The Georgia Theatre – w/ Frank Turner

10.28.2016 – Charlottesville, Virginia – Jefferson Theatre – w/ Frank Turner

10.29.2016 – Morgantown, West Virginia – Mainstage – w/ Frank Turner

10.30.2016 – Norfolk, Virginia – The NorVa – w/ Frank Turner

10.31.2016 – Wilmington, Delaware – World Cafe Live @ The Queen – w/ Frank Turner

11.02.2016 – Clifton Park, New York – Upstate Concert Theatre – w/ Frank Turner

11.03.2016 – Ithaca, New York – The Haunt – w/ Frank Turner

11.11.2016 – Detroit, Michigan – Magic Bag

11.12.2016 – Chicago, Illinois – Subterranean

12.09.2016 – Buffalo, New York – The Town Ballroom

12.10.2016 – Buffalo, New York – The Town Ballroom