by KRISTIAN GRAVENOR

The annual Sunday in the Park - a West End event held in NDG Park to serve what one organizer calls the needs of "marginalized youth" - has died, perhaps fittingly, just before it turned 30.

In its absence, NDG social activist Steve Laudi - one of the original pioneers of the event in the early ’70s - has launched an all-day, 20-band music marathon from noon until 10 p.m. at NDG Park on Sunday, August 3.

The political thrust of the new event is to encourage the creation of more live music venues in the city. "We want to lobby politicians and show that people don’t dislike live music," he says. "Some residents think it causes too much noise but we’re getting thousands of names on a petition saying we like music live and actually want to hear it."

At its peak in the ’70s, Sunday in the Park saw crowds of 10,000 mill about as socially conscious types handed out reading materials and a few bands performed live. More recently the event has become more family-oriented and smaller in stature.

Its recent form wasn’t floating the Head and Hands boat. "We’ve decided not to present it this year so we can take a year off and reflect on the event so it can return and stay true to its original mandate, which is to help marginalized youth," says Alex Megelas, a rep for the community group. Meetings and workshops are underway to discuss how and if the event will be rehabilitated.

Meanwhile, Steve Laudi has leapt into the breach with the Montreal Music Festival, which aims not only to entertain but also to launch the warcry for more stage space to showcase local musical talent. Bars such as the Avanti, Honey Martin’s, Buster Harvey’s and Typhoon have recently seen their attempts provide live music discontinued after neighbours complained of noise.

A petition to persuade the city to encourage live music venues, distributed primarily by the band Edwin and the Bedouins, has amassed 1,000 signatures. Others supporting the pro-venue cause with half-hour sets will include Steve Hawley (aka Liquid from Bran Van 3000), George Bowser, Jim Zoeller, Joe Jammer, the Rhythm Mercenaries and Kali (of Kali and Dub). The event will be emceed by Mike Yahman, who hosts a radio show on CFMB show Thursdays from midnight to three.

Laudi believes a big help to the venue shortage lies in the government- funded renovation of an empty theatre across the street from the park. "The Cinema V could be the big part of a solution. It doesn’t have neighbours, it’s across from a park in a commercial zone and it’s completely built as a theatre," he says. "It could help."

In the past, the Cinema V was a source of friction between Laudi and Head and Hands, who were unenthusiastic about the theatre’s renovation, as it would have forced them to move their offices from the building. Head and Hands have since moved from the site and say they "wish him all the best" with the new event.