Laura Power
Northern News Services
Friday, May 18, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Tonight, the Johnsons will move their living room to the Yellowknife Community Arena to entertain a few hundred extra guests.

Six high school bands and one solo musician will be playing at "A Night in the Johnsons' Living Room," a concert meant to entertain friends and family.

The Johnsons are a made-up family created by some of the students involved.

"I think they're all incredibly talented - it takes a lot of inner strength to write your own music and then get up in front of everyone and do it," said Brian Herbert, one of the parents who helped organize the event.

His son, 18-year-old Colm, is the bassist in Haste: Inhale.

Brian Herbert said they have been putting on smaller shows for about two years, and he and his son decided it was time for a bigger one.

"We're going to really showcase all the talent that these kids haveÖ they've been just amazing," said Brian Herbert.

"It's pretty cool because Sir John is going to help out by bringing their video stuff down to make a video for the bands," he said.

Between musical acts, there will be "sort of a little storyline," said Brian Herbert, to keep guests entertained while the music equipment onstage is being moved around.

The show will be a drug and alcohol-free, family-oriented event to which everyone is invited. There is even a family discount on tickets. There will be tables and chairs in the back for parents to sit and enjoy the evening.

"It's an all-ages show so there's no swearing," said Colm Herbert.

The lineup of bands includes Hello, It's Morning, Haste; Inhale, Story in a Bombshell, A Frayed Reality, HushÖ Hush Sweet Charlotte, and Dahlia Voorhees. Julia Hintz will be playing solo on the ukulele.

Brian Herbert said the show will not only give the young musicians a chance to show off, but it will help them understand what goes into putting on a large event.

"When we decided to jump on this bigger show, it was partly to show them what it takes to really put something on and help them get that experience," he said.

The gig will have no headlining band. Herbert said they drew straws to see when each act would play.

Herbert said the point of the night is "to show off the talent and the hard work of these kids, that's all it is. It's not a battle of the bands- it's just to have a lot of fun and show them off."

The doors open at the Johnsons' living room - also known as the Yellowknife Community Arena - tonight at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.