by The Clash

An organization called the Joe Strummer Memorial Society of Calgary has plans in Calgary to establish a youth-centered music and recreation hall in that city. The proposed Joe Strummer Memorial Hall will be a multi function facility and venue for all-ages concerts patterned after the famous 924 Gilman in Berkeley, California. The organization's mission statement explains:

…it is hoped that the Joe Strummer Memorial Hall will be a full-time recreation hall, to be used by the youth of Calgary for hanging out and organizing various activities. There are currently not enough places in Calgary where kids are welcome to just hang out and are not expected to be "consumers" or where they can get together and host their activities. Groups like Food Not Bombs, which are mostly youth based, often have a difficult time finding a space that will allow them to prepare their meals and organize events. It is hoped that the hall will have a fully certified kitchen, so that groups like Food Not Bombs will have a space to operate from that they can feel at home.

The site will also serve to memorialize the legacy of late Clash frontman Joe Strummer. Both it and the non-profit organization have been granted the full endorsement of Strummer's estate (and the the related Strummerville / Joe Strummer Foundation For New Music organization).

In order to raise funds the society is working with the Uprise! Festival Society, hosts of the annual Uprise! Music Festival. This year's Uprise!, to be held on April 14th and 15th at the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Hall, will benefit the Memorial Hall. The event will feature over 40 local acts, including Chixdiggit, Billy and the Lost Boys, the Failure, Vail Halen and many more to be announced. A full list can be found at Uprisefest.ca.