Marine Drive's Slainte by the Pier bar/restaurant is the place for a musical fundraiser Saturday evening, Sept. 15.

The shindig will benefit Music Access Society, a great new initiative that aims to provide musical instruments and lessons for restricted-income children and youth in the region.

The charity was founded by John Briner, a South Surreyite and one-time music teacher, along with Anne Guite and Michael Gillette (both of whom teach lessons at Tapestry Music), plus other like-minded local musicians.

"Starting the third week of September, we will be providing individual and group lessons to 37 needy and at-risk youths from South Surrey to Abbotsford," Briner, the group's executive director, told me.

Saturday's by-donation concert, which starts at 6 p.m., features Gillette, Fiddlin' Frenzy and Pete Tennant & Friends. The venue is located at 15057 Marine Dr., White Rock - across the street from the pier. Look for info on the MAS website, coming soon to musicaccesssociety.com, or call 604-259-8452.

BLUES BANDS VIE FOR TITLE

White Rock Blues Society is going to Vancouver's Princeton Pub in a search for a band to send to Memphis.

The winning blues band at the Sept. 22 contest/concert will be the blues society's representative at the yearly International Blues Challenge event next January.

Judges will choose a winner among the night's 10 bands: Delannah Bowen Band, Ted McDonald Band, Norine Braun, TOAD, Pappa Dawg, Hinton Hart Band, Steve Kozak, James Rogers, Arsen Shomakhov and Leonard & the Lab Rats. Tickets for the gig are $25 via tickets.surrey.ca.

The winning band will have to pay some costs to get to Memphis, as the society doesn't have the resources to cover the entire trip. Financial support for the band will come from tickets sales at the Sept. 22 gig, proceeds from a "Painted Guitar" raffle and a fundraiser/ concert featuring the band in January.

CHOIR TIME FOR MEN

Leigh Anderson, president of Pacific Showtime Men's Chorus, emailed to remind me that the group has resumed rehearsals at St. Mark's Parish in South Surrey (at 12953 20th Ave., to be exact), every Monday at 7: 30 p.m.

The community-based choir, directed by Mark "Mr. O Canada" Donnelly, has a varied repertoire of music designed to appeal to a broad audience, and has performed throughout the Lower Mainland.

"Men who enjoy singing and would like to develop their skills are invited to our rehearsals," Anderson wrote, "and, if interested in joining our group, are welcome to engage in our audition process." For more details, call Anderson at 604-536-5292.

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