Date and Time
Friday, June 7, 2024
Doors open 7pm
Performances at 7:30 PM
Location
El Mocambo
464 Spadina Ave. #462
Toronto, ON M5T 2G8
Tickets
Tickets: $75 each
Purchase online, or call 416-361-6281
After nearly three decades, our AIDSbeat concert remains the definitive rock-and-roll event of Toronto’s legal community, having raised over $4.25 million in support of CANFAR-funded researchers who are leading the way in HIV/AIDS discoveries. It’s a friendly battle-of-the-law-firm-bands that sees five groups rocking the El Mocambo’s stage, alongside special guest performances and a live auction. Join over 600 annual concert-goers and help us raise the funds we need to invest in community implementation projects that will help us reach our goal of ending the HIV epidemic in Canada.
This year, our lineup of bands are paying homage to the gone-too-soon members of The 27 Club; musical legends who all left us in their 27th year. As CANFAR invests in critical harm reduction programs across Canada, we'll pay tribute to some of those we've lost too soon to substance use while shining a light on how harm reduction is helping lower new rates of HIV cases among people who inject drugs.
Proceeds from CANFAR Rocks – AIDSbeat 27 support CANFAR’s three priorities to end the HIV epidemic in Canada:
- Launching national awareness campaigns to reach underserved communities and connect them to testing, treatment, and care;
- Removing barriers to testing and care for underserved key populations and communities by investing in new testing approaches and more accessible places and spaces with culturally appropriate supports;
- Funding research by and for members of these key populations and communities that will directly address the communities’ needs
Meet the Bands
Blind Trust
Playing classic rock cover tunes for almost 20 years and still loving it, Blind Trust brings together rockers Chris Robertson on vocals, Richard Raymer on guitar, Jason Hoddinott on guitar, Stewart Borden on bass and Mark Masur on drums.
Coda Conduct
Coda Conduct makes its CANFAR Rocks–AIDSbeat27 debut this year as the first and only band without a Bay Street sponsor. If you have heard the stories about them, you know exactly why. They hail from parts unknown. No one knows their origin story. They are of the spirit world. After tonight, they will once more be in the wind, not to be found until their next gig. In the unlikely event that you come across their names (such as through a cursory LinkedIn search), know that their performance does not reflect on their employers. Unless you think it was really good. Coda Conduct is: Mike Denyszyn (keyboards), Jason Tan (drums), Kamaria Hoo (vocals), Steve Smolkin (guitar), Shaun Darchiville (bass), Jay Bhadra (guitar), Anna Russo (vocals).
Kings of Cassels
Kings of Cassels are a nine-piece rock’n’roll cover band from Toronto, Canada. Formed from a collection of lawyers by day, their unique brand of entertainment fuses loose harmonies with a lack of practice that will make you want to move your feet (and get a drink). Hailed as “better than I thought” by someone who saw them once, Kings of Cassels come to you after performing internationally for a captive audience at their own firm’s retreat and headlining a band member’s own birthday party that one time. Jason Arbuck (guitar), Jake Bullen (vocals), Casey Chisick (keys/vocals), Sam DiGiuseppe (vocals), Eric Mayzel (bass), Bethany McKoy (vocals), Colin Pendrith (lead guitar), Sam Sokoloff (drums), and Kwaku Tabi (sax) are excited to join together for another fantastic performance for a great cause.
Screaming Legals
The Torkin Manes Screaming Legals first played at AIDSbeat 2019. Since then, the band has evolved and expanded to include additional members of the firm. The all-Torkin Manes line-up for CANFAR Rocks–AIDSbeat27 features original band members Dan Pugen on lead guitar, Chris Valente on bass and Jeff Simpson on keyboards, plus new band members Stephen Warren on vocals, Ryan Hauk on rhythm guitar, and Luigi Iantosca on drums.
Sound Prediction
Some say a rock band is nothing more than karaoke for the delusional. Yet from Sound Prediction’s first practice in a grungy basement rehearsal space, we knew it could be so much more. What started as transporting guitars via TTC in a bag of pillows has grown into a steady stream of business for UberXL. A reason to acquire 31 flavours (and counting) of distortion pedals. A way to get in our cardio without touching a treadmill. A form of alternative musical worship. A way to guilt our friends into attending concerts we like — because we’re in them. To finally have something interesting to say when someone asks: “So, what do you do for fun?” United in studio and on stage as Sound Prediction, Kaitlin (vocals, keyboard), Will (guitar, vocals), Chris (bass), and Mitch (drums) know this truth: it’s a great feeling to answer, “I’m in a rock band.”
The Insecurities
Representing the Davies law firm, The Insecurities are thrilled to have the chance to rock the ElMo stage once again with a mix of old and new members and some surprise guests.
The Write Offs
After years of supporting firm events and social causes at McCarthy Tétrault, the Write-Offs are set to take the stage at the El Mocambo in support of CANFAR. Featuring Frank McLaughlin (lead vocals / rhythm guitar), Dorothy Charach (lead vocals), Peter Neumann (bass / vocals), Steven Tanner (lead guitar), Tom Melville (keyboards) and Pat Pengelly (drums), the Write-Offs bring a modern take on classic rock.
Velvet Revival
Velvet Revival makes its debut this year, phoenix-like from the ashes of bands that have played in years gone by. Dedicated this year to pop, Velvet Revival is excited to bring the club back from the dead and put the fun back into funerals. The band is honored to play at this event in support of such an important cause.
Meet the Co-Chairs
Christopher A. Guerreiro
Christopher A. Guerreiro, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, practises intellectual property dispute resolution and litigation, with an emphasis on patents and issues affecting the life sciences, healthcare, and other high-technology industries. Christopher has been a member of the firm since joining as a summer student in 2011. He is an editor of Norton Rose Fulbright's Pharma in Brief bulletin and leads a number of programmes related to associate development, substantive legal knowledge, and team-building within the firm. This is Christopher's second year as CANFAR's AIDSbeat concert Co-chair, and he and the Norton Rose Fulbright band, Sound Prediction, are the reigning Lexpert Cup Champions.
Mike Chalut
Mike Chalut is self-effacing, given to spontaneous outbursts of showtunes, loses keys and cards but never an audience—and he is ready to host CANFAR Rocks, our AIDSbeat concert, for the third year in a row! Over the years, Mike has put his infectious energy to work as a notable radio and television personality. Among his many accolades, Mike has hosted Breakfast Television, City News and KISS FM. He has interviewed A-list celebrities on PROUD FM, planned world-class events, interviewed Hollywood royalty on the red carpet, and hosted two popular TV shows, Wedding SOS and Kim’s Rude Awakenings. His new reality is producing TV shows that celebrate social inclusion and raising funds for non-profit organizations.
David Palumbo (Honorary Chair)
David Palumbo has been an AIDSbeat concert-goer and Co-chair for years.
David is a senior partner and Chair of the Transactions Practice Group in Baker McKenzie's Toronto office. David is a member of the Firm’s North American Capital Markets Steering Committee and Global Inclusion and Diversity Committee. He also serves as Chair of the Board of the You Can Play Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the inclusion of all in sports.
David was recently named one of the 2023 Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine..
Patricia Olasker (Honorary Chair & Event Founder)
Patricia Olasker founded AIDSbeat 27 years ago and has grown it to become the most exciting event in Toronto's legal community. She is a senior partner at Davies and one of Canada’s leading lawyers in shareholder activism and M&A.
Outside the firm, Patricia is an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, a member of the OSC’s CEO Advisory Council, former adviser to the chair of the OSC and past chair of the OSC’s Securities Advisory Committee. She is President of the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Association, Vice Chair of the Royal Ontario Museum Foundation Board and Vice Chair of Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research. Patricia has twice been honored as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by Women’s Executive Network.
In the 1990s, the HIV/AIDS epidemic was at its height in Toronto. No treatment was available at the time to fight the disease. For many, a diagnosis equaled certain death. A group of lawyers, tired of watching the epidemic devastate their community, decided to fight back.
CANFAR Rocks, the AIDSbeat concert, was created almost 30 years ago to raise money in support of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), and its mission to fund all aspects of HIV research – from increased prevention efforts, opportunities for testing, improved health outcomes for people living with HIV in Canada, and reduced stigma. That research has had a huge impact: People can now access life-saving treatment and care. However, we can not allow ourselves to become complacent. Over 63,000 people in Canada living with HIV and on average, 4 people newly acquire HIV every 24 hours in Canada.
Video & photo gallery
You won't want to miss...
People's Choice Award
Guests pay to play! We encourage you to contribute and support your favourite band by voting the night of. The band with the most votes will take home the People’s Choice Award!
Live Auction with emcee Mike Chalut
On the night of the event, guests will have the chance to bid on a selection of rock-and-roll art, goods and experiences in our AIDSbeat live auction.