VIDEO: Arkells serenade Mac grad on her front lawn
Published April 27, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Hamilton’s favourite band is at it again and this time, they’re honouring the hard work and dedication of 2020’s graduating students.
Hamilton’s favourite band is at it again and this time, they’re honouring the hard work and dedication of 2020’s graduating students.
In a video posted to their YouTube, the Arkells hit the road, in a responsibly physically distanced way, to serenade a McMaster graduate on her family’s front lawn.
University and college graduation ceremonies have been cancelled everywhere due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on gatherings.
Last week, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board also announced that high school convocations were also cancelled.
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“As we approach the end of the semester, we feel especially bummed for all the hardworking college students who don’t get a chance to properly celebrate with their family and friends,” said the band’s frontman, Max Kerman, in the video.
Kerman goes on to explain that the band learned about a McMaster Health Sciences student who just finished up her final exam and who, under normal circumstances would be graduating.
Ava Harrison, Kerman said, is also a volunteer at a local shelter and is a tutor. She has also been collecting protective eyewear for health-care workers battling COVID-19.
And, it goes without saying, Harrison is an Arkells fan.
So, in consultation with Harrison’s family who wanted to honour her achievements, the band devised a ruse in which Harrison believed she was having grad pictures taken around her house.
Unbeknownst to her, though, Kerman and fellow bandmate, Mike DeAngelis (the others stayed home to adhere to physical distancing rules) were the so-called photographers hired for the gig.
The duo rolled up at the Harrison family homestead, offered Ava some flowers and a grad gift and then performed an acoustic version of their latest single ‘Years in the Making.’
“We’ve heard that grads out there are using this song, Years in the Making, which is a song about putting in the work, to commemorate their achievements,” Kerman said.
“We sing this song for Ava, but we also sing this song for you, the class of 2020.”
Check out the touching video below:
Following the performance, Kerman offers to take the promised grad photos for the Harrisons.
The video was shared over the weekend and, judging from the response on social media, people have been really touched by the band’s gesture.
“This was so sweet! My undergrad convocation was cancelled this summer so this brightened my day!” wrote one YouTube user.
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