Wesley Urban Ministries and Terra Lightfoot

Max Kerman: Tickets for the sold-out show went for $100 a piece with all artists donating their time and talent to raise funds for music, arts and recreation programs for Syrian youth who are newcomers to Hamilton, according to Hamilton Spectator. The funds will be distributed by Wesley Urban Ministries. Besides The National, the concert included performances by Max Kerman of the Arkells, Terra Lightfoot, Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene and Toronto singer-songwriter Hayden. Opening the benefit show was Syrian-born Hamilton hip-hop performer Tarek Ajak, who still has relatives living in the war-torn nation. Potocic said the organizing team worked hundreds of hours planning and setting up the concert, including making about $2,000 worth of needed repairs to the church plumbing and seating to help accommodate the audience. Others are awaiting refugee settlement in Europe and Turkey. "Much of the young generation has left," said Ajak, who performs under the name Mother Tareka. "I have lots of cousins, many who went to Europe as refugees." Ajak said his family is trying to sponsor an uncle, currently living in Turkey, as a refugee to Canada. "We're hoping it just a matter of time before they process him," Ajak said before the concert. "On paper it a 'yes,' but reality in the Middle East is a whole other thing." Backed by fellow rapper Lee Reed and local harpist Rachel Nolan, Ajak welcomed the audience with a rap song he wrote in Arabic for the show. "We crafted a song specifically to welcome the Syrians, something I rap in Arabic, a very family-friendly kind of rap," explained Ajak, who is also a youth worker at the New Generation drop-in centre, which is housed in the New Vision church building at Mac Nab and Main West. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.