UPDATE - 3/4@10:31AM: The organizers posted an update yesterday:
March 3, 2020 - Overtime Angels are grateful for the THOUSANDS of people who have already purchased tickets for "A Night for Neil". We understand everyone is lit up with anticipation! We are working diligently behind the scenes with the Peart family to put together an event that will honor Neil's memory and leave a lasting impression on all the fans. The show will start as a memorial, and celebration of Neil's life with speakers, musical performances and video tributes. Following intermission, we will transition to RUSH tributes, special guests, and more! Additional information will be released soon! ...
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UPDATE - 2/25@4:50PM: Some more presale details via the Overtime Angels newsletter:
Overtime Angels presents 'A Night For Neil' - The Neil Peart Memorial Celebration
A night of internationally-known music all-stars paying tribute to the legendary drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart of Rush, debuts at the Meridian Centre on Saturday, May 16th!
N4NA is presale code for Overtime Angels Regualr Presale. This presale starts Wednesday, February 26th at 10am ET and ends Thursday, February 27th at 10pm. Public onsale Friday, February 27th at 10am.
We hope to see all of you in St. Catharines!
Overtime Angels, Inc
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UPDATE - 2/23@9:47AM: Here's a CBC news story about the event that includes a short interview with Donna Halper, who is helping to organize the event.
UPDATE - 2/21@2:39PM: An official press release has been released and posted on the Overtime Angels website and social media channels:
... The event will be held in the late Mr. Peart's hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario, CA, on May 16th, 2020, at the Meridian Centre and is being coordinated in cooperation with the Peart family, Overtime Angels, Inc. - a registered 501(c)(3) charity - and the City of St. Catharines are bringing together a wide array of production professionals, world-class musicians, and guest speakers to pay tribute to Neil's life and career. The growing roster of artists and guest speakers will be announced in a subsequent release. ... Speaking on behalf of Neil's family, his parents, Glen and Betty Peart stated, "We are grateful for the team that Overtime Angels is assembling...we are especially pleased to be able to support this charity event that will benefit some much-needed organizations that are close to our hearts."...
In addition to Overtime Angels, the charities chosen by the Peart Family as beneficiaries of this event are: St. Catharines Hospital and Walker Cancer Centre, The Juravinski Hospital & Cancer Centre in Hamilton, and the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie.
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UPDATE - 2/21@1:04PM: The event is now listed on the Meridian Centre website, with prices ranging from $49-99 (tickets on pre-sale/sale next week).
UPDATE - 2/18@9:07AM: Here are some more details on ticket sales from Sick Drummer magazine:
Pre-sale tickets will go on sale at 12:00 PM EST on February 26th and will go on full public sale on February 28th. An official announcement will be released on February 24th with a link to purchase tickets, followed by the names of artists who will be performing/appearing. ...
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Earlier today the Rush-themed nonprofit Overtime Angels announced the date and venue for a planned memorial concert and charity fundraiser in honor of the late Neil Peart. A Night for Neil: The Neil Peart Memorial Celebration will be held on Saturday, May 16th at the Meridian Centre in Neil Peart's hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario. The event has been in the works since shortly after Peart's passing as detailed by Overtime Angels' Jim Brunke in this January 22nd article from the St. Catharines Standard:
... Brunke said Rush fans from all over the world "are going to want to be involved with this thing." "And if I'm going to have thousands of Rush fans converge on an area that close to Lakeside Park, they're all going to go there to see the 'willows in the breeze,' and the merry-go-round," he added, quoting lyrics from a song Peart wrote about the park in 1975. ... Brunke said members of his team, including event planner Deb Huston, have been reaching out to musicians "of all calibres." Considering how influential Rush's music has been to even some of the biggest names in the music industry, Brunke said he expects there will be numerous rock bands and individual musicians "who would love to perform." The charity has teamed up with another passionate Rush fan on this side of the border - George Roche from Toronto-based entertainment agency The Booking House Inc. Although still early in the planning process, Roche, too, is confident the event would attract top-notch musicians from all over the world. "There are just so many great drummers who loved Neil and respected his complexity and style as a drummer," said Roche, himself a drummer heavily influenced by Peart. "We're definitely going to be reaching out to those people to participate." Brunke said members of Peart's family are in full support of the idea. "They were so appreciative, and want to be part of it," Brunke said. In addition to a live-music component, Brunke hopes to include opportunities for fans, friends and family members to participate. "We're just so excited about having the opportunity to be involved in doing this for, basically, our musical hero." ... Roche plans to visit St. Catharines next week with Overtime Angels president Mike Rosenthal and vice-president Lance Kasten to tour Meridian Centre and other venues that could be part of the event. ...
Tickets will go on sale soon, and more details will follow. Please follow the event on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and/or subscribe to the email list at this location to get the latest information.
