JoPo needs your help to record in Nashville

Local musician Joanne Polack (who goes by her lifelong nickname, JoPo) is heading to Nashville in April to begin recording a solo album at the legendary House of Blues, but she needs your help to do it.

JoPo's album is being produced by Manitoulin Island native and Juno award winner Crystal Shawanda along with Shawanda's husband, Dewayne Strobel, who's also a musician.

She and Shawanda met backstage about two years ago, and the two women hit it off. Shawanda later invited JoPo to open for her Christmas show, and then offered to produce her next album.

JoPo is trying to raise between $12,000 and $18,000 to cover travel expenses (she's planning two recording sessions — one in the spring and the other in November). Although Shawanda is helping her out with production costs, some of the money JoPo raises will also go towards making the album.

JoPo said she knows it's a lot of money, but the low Canadian dollar means she has to raise more.

She is holding a fundraising concert entitled Band Together starting at 6 p.m. March 24 at The Durham Social.

The lineup is a who's who of the local entertainment scene — Johnny Williams, Justin James, Lisa Marie, Jazz Paradis, The Suicide Drifters, Hugh Jazz, Shawn Parsons, SULFURcity Acoustic, comedian Shawn McLaren and, of course, JoPo's own band, JoPo and the RiZe.

If that wasn't enough, there will be a silent auction, raffle and door prize. Some of the proceeds will also go to the Sudbury Youth Rocks Program.

For those who can't make it to the fundraiser, JoPo has also launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe (search for JoPo on the website), where she's set a goal of $12,000.

“It's crazy, because when I was trying to figure out how I was going to raise some money, I talked to some of my friends and said 'What should I do?'

“They said 'Jo, how many fundraisers have you done for others? Why not do one for yourself?'

“I called all the artists and said 'Would you guys be cool? I'll do it on a Thursday,' because everybody plays on the weekends. Every single person I've spoken to is on board, helping me out.”

JoPo said she's excited for her upcoming trip to Nashville.

“To me, it's not a matter of if I make it big,” she said. “For a girl from Sudbury, going to Nashville and having the opportunity to record an album there is going to be a great experience.

“I just really want to say thanks to every single person that's backing me on this — family, friends, strangers. I'm really, really humbled by the support.”

Tickets to the fundraiser cost $20 and are available online at Event Brite (search for Band Together on the website) or at The Guitar Clinic and Paris Family Dental.