Countdown to Communithon: Local musician has 'butterflies' in his stomach

Performers are preparing for the 42nd Annual Communithon, being broadcast live tomorrow from the Weyburn Legion.

While some get up on stage and perform each year at Communithon, some are doing so for the first time this year.

17-year-old Artan McManus, who writes, records, and produces all his own music, has only submitted a recorded video to Communithon in 2020, but this year, he'll be on the stage playing one of his most popular singles, 'Everything Sucks'.

The song expresses the struggles of life's circumstances, with a pop-punk, edgy metal feel, which has stirred reactions from his fans and followers.

"I've had people say that it's my best vocal work in a song so far, and I've I've had people say it's my best song so far," he shared. "I'm just going to do the one song and it's pretty much to show people that you can express your mental health in one song." 

McManus said he wants to show people that if you can play, you can perform. 

He said the anticipation for his late evening performance has been putting butterflies in his stomach. 

"But I've got this. It's gonna be good."

While he'll be doing a version of the song modified for an all-ages audience, the song can be heard on Apple Music and Spotify. It can also be heard on YouTube HERE.

The fundraising goal for this year's Communithon is $82,023, which will help out 10 local community agencies, Big Brothers Big Sisters Weyburn, Canadian Mental Health Association Weyburn Branch, Community Low Income Centre, CNIB Foundation, Envision Counselling and Support Centre, Inclusion Weyburn, Southeast Advocates for Employment, Spinal Cord Injury Saskatchewan, Weyburn Care-a-Van, and Weyburn Youth Centre. (Note: all hyperlinks are to the respective Facebook pages. Communithon's page is HERE).

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