A well-known P.E.I. musician, author and music teacher has started up a new weekly Friday evening online fundraiser talk show, featuring a chat with a different Island artist each week.
“With all the reduced activity and COVID restrictions, I don’t get to see my musical and arts scene colleagues very much these days,” said Todd MacLean about the show concept. “And so, as I’m sitting at home and dealing with all the challenges and changes of this past year and finding new directions to take creativity and passions, I wonder how and what everyone else is doing during this time.”
How and what are you doing during this pandemic time? is the central question of the talk show called Todd MacLean’s Rainforest Lounge, which runs every Friday, 7 p.m., on Instagram Live.
Meaghan Blanchard was the first guest on Jan. 8, and Brielle Ansems was featured on Jan. 15. Both performed acoustic songs in their living rooms and engaged in a chat with MacLean about the ways their lives have changed over the past year.
There is a fundraising component, too, as each week the guest artist chooses a charity, and in lieu of an admission price for the online show, viewers are encouraged to send a donation to [email protected] to go toward that particular charity.
“So far, we’ve collected a great amount of donations for The Upper Room from our first week, and for jack.org from the second week, which is a Canadian youth mental health advocacy organization,” said MacLean. “But this is also a rare paid gig for artists. Thanks to our sponsors, The Kings Playhouse, Northumberland Ferries Limited and Caseley’s Tents and Party Rentals, and we’re so thankful to them for their support.”
The rainforest aspect of the show comes into play with the backdrop scenery for the set.
“Last month on a night where I just felt particularly cooped up at home, getting all shack-whacky, I ordered authentic-looking rainforest wallpaper online. So, I put this up in my home office, and when I sit in front of it, it kind of looks like I’m legit hanging out in an actual rainforest. So, of course, this had to be called the Rainforest Lounge.”
MacLean hopes to raise funds and awareness for environmental causes as well with the show, in particular for The Amazon Conservation Association and The Jane Goodall Institute.
In order to see the show, simply use or create an Instagram account and find and follow the toddpei account. Then at 7 p.m. on Fridays, find the Instagram Live show being broadcast from that account.
Upcoming guests on Todd MacLean’s Rainforest Lounge will be Tim Chaisson on Jan. 22 and Tara MacLean on Jan. 29.
