The Autumn Kings helped a family keep their celebration streak alive outside an Amherstburg, Ont. retirement home Saturday
Windsor, Ont. based rockers the Autumn Kings took some time out of their weekend to help a celebrate Mother's Day for a local family.
Maggie Bystryk lives at Seasons Retirement Home at 681 Front Rd. S, in Amherstburg Amherstburg, Ont.
It's the first year the 88 year old has lived away from her family and she was in danger of not celebrating the day with them due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her daughter Becky Ewen saw the band play pop up shows online and reached out.
They showed up Saturday for a free concert from the safety of the front lawn and lead guitarist Jake Diab tells CTV Windsor the smiles were payment enough.
"I want her to feel like there are people around who care all the time because I know how lonely it gets right now. I've felt it and I think we've all on some level felt what it's like sitting there going like when surreal time going to end," he says. "Hopefully she can take away from this that it was the most memorable part of this strange time we're living in."
Autumn Kings perform for Maggie Bystryk at the Seasons Retirement Home in Amherstburg, Ont. on Saturday May 9, 2020 (Photo by CTV Windsor's Sijia Liu)
Even though mom was still far away, Ewen says it will be a Mother's Day party to remember.
"It was just amazing; far beyond what I expected. These guys are so great. I'm so grateful," says Ewen.
The bands pop-up show began with Bystryk dancing on her balcony and quickly spread throughout the home.
Autumn Kings 2018 hit Devil in Disguise was adopted by the NHL's Detroit Redwings and sees regular play in several arena's throughout the league.
— with files from CTV Windsor.