Neil to Perform at Vancouver Island Clean-air Benefit

UPDATE: See Duncan Clean-air Benefit for more.

An environmental benefit concert has just been announced for Sept. 17 that will feature Neil Young, Barenaked Ladies, and Randy Bachman according to canadaeast.com via BNB.

The benefit concert is being held to help residents of the town of Crofton on Vancouver Island, Canada fight emissions from a pulp mill that they believe are poisonous.

The Crofton Airshed Citizens Group's is sponsoring the concert, along with Bachman. Residents are fighting a proposal by the company Norske Canada to burn "alternative fuels" - including coal, tires, and creosote-laden railway ties. 'The current emissions are significant and dangerous,' says group spokesman Michael Ableman. 'To switch fuels is really switching poisons that are coming out of the stacks.'

"I called some friends of mine, went to visit Neil Young, called Barenaked Ladies. They said, 'We're there!'" Bachman said in an interview with Canada.com. "I think it's probably going to be the biggest concert ever on Vancouver Island. Just to get Neil Young alone on the Island is really great!"

A company spokesman issued the following statement: "We've come to an understanding. We've used too much science, and not enough listening in engaging the community. We need to listen better, be respectful of the feelings of the people in the community, and give them the facts as to what we are doing and what we propose to do. We're all for the same thing. We're after clean air for the community and the neighbours we live and work with. And if they want to do a concert for clean air, we certainly have no objection."

Bachman told the Gulf Islands Online - News that when hearing about the burning of tires and railway ties that:

"I sat in the audience numb and stunned at the stories coming from different people in Crofton. I went to see my dear old friend Neil Young and he was performing this project he's got called Greendale, which is part of a dream he had about an organic farmer fighting a big pollution-making mill and the government and all the hassles he's had."

The concert is in a 2,500 seat venue at Duncan's Cowichan Centre and is expected to sellout rapidly.