It’s not often Ottawa has seen a by-youth, for-youth fundraiser, but the new head of the Jer’s Vision youth advisory committee (YAC) is organizing just that.

Zoe Easton, 17, calls it The Summer Bands Bash, and it’s an all-ages event set to take place at Club SAW on July 5. It features seven local musical acts — most of whom are high school students themselves.

“With the exception of one, all of them are high school bands, and they’re really excited to play a show,” Easton says. “This doesn’t happen very often, where youth plan an event for other people their age. We’ve got all these resources available for youth, but a lot of the time, they’re not actually being planned by people who are in that age category.”

The money raised will go toward youth-oriented projects and events in the region, including the creation of a series of children’s books and a graphic novel for queer teens by youth visual artist Brien Watson.

“We’re lucky to have an artist on our team now,” Easton says. “We’re also doing some more events. We’re planning something really cool for National Coming Out Day in October, as well as for the Day of Purple.

“Basically, what we’re trying to do is set up a schedule for the youth advisory committee where, each month, we do one big event and a series of small random projects. We [plan to] release those projects at the big events. Hopefully, there will be another event soon where you can check out those books.”

To get tickets for The Summer Bands Bash, contact Easton at youth@jersvision.org. Note that subsidies are available for youth who want to attend the event but can’t afford the ticket price.

The Deets:

The Summer Bands Bash

Featuring The Young Offenders, Tall Trees, Suzy Pankhurst & Elspeth Urquhart, Markelius, Rainbow Sound Explosion, Full Tipped Sleeve and Inultus

Fri, July 5, 6:30pm–midnight

Club SAW

$10

jersvision.org