This month鈥檚 1st Tuesday Fundraiser at the Mex Pub is on June 6, and features local songwriter Chris Hansen and friends.

He has chosen to support the Comox Valley Iraqi Kurdish Refugee Sponsorship to receive the admission proceeds. The event is at the Mex Pub and begins at 7:30 p.m.

Hansen has lived in the Comox Valley for close to 50 years, and officially considers himself a certified licensed local. His guitar styles and soul searching songwriting will at times stir your emotions, uplift your spirits and engage your rhythm button. Time spent playing and writing with musical veterans Harry Hill (violin, chin cello), Bob Mainwaring (peddle steel), Graham Edwards (upright bass, trumpet), and Mark 鈥渨oody鈥� Woodrow (percussion) and others has had an influence on his approach to songwriting and the ultimate rewards it brings when surrounded by talented and encouraging musicians.

鈥淎ll original works for this fundraising performance have been enhanced with musical arrangement support by local talented and encouraging musicians,鈥� says Hansen.

鈥淪teve Ruskin will be on keyboards and harmonica and Bruce Wing on bass, flute and vocals. Steve is quickly becoming a session player in demand in the Valley and brings the musical outcomes to a higher level, while Bruce keeps the task at hand of a steady groove and smooth transitions in check. The Valley鈥檚 number one virtuoso session player Blaine Dunaway will be creating his magic on violin, while Judy Wing lends her smooth and performance enhancing vocals to the group.鈥�

The focus for this event will be songs inspired by the world changing events, and life-changing times for the children and people of Syria and Iraq.

The sponsorship group has the goal of raising $25,000 in order to reunite a son and his family with his mom and Canadian family. A more detailed outline of the events affecting this family can be read on the group鈥檚 Facebook page. Their sponsorship agreement holder is through the Anglican Diocese of Vancouver Island, supported by St. Peter鈥檚 Anglican Church in Comox. The funds received are distributed to the family through the church.

The evening begins with preludes by the Snow Monkeez (Blaine Dunaway, Steve Ruskin, and Bruce Wing), a few tunes by hosts Judy and Bruce Wing, to be followed by Chris Hansen.

For more info visit facebook.com/ComoxValleyIraqiKurdishrefugeeSponsorship or http://Facebook.com/1stTuesdayFundraisers