FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2025 // DOORS AT 6:30PM // TICKETS ONLY $75
DATE & TIME
Fri., June 6, 2025
7pm til late
LOCATION
El Mocambo
464 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON
TICKET PRICES
Tickets – $75 each
Tax receipts applicable on 65% of value.
AIDSBEAT is the definitive rock-and-roll event of Toronto's legal community, having raised over $4.5 million in support of CANFAR's investments in research and community-based initiatives for almost three decades.
AIDSBEAT is a friendly battle-of-the-law-firm-bands that sees up to 8 groups rocking the El Mocambo’s stages, alongside special guest performances and an exclusive live auction. This year’s AIDSBEAT is once again Co-chaired by the dynamic duo of Christopher Guerreiro & Mike Chalut.
Over 600 annual concert-goers join the fray and support their colleagues while raising vital funds for CANFAR’s investments in Canada’s HIV/AIDS response.
Join us for the 28th AIDSBEAT – CANFAR Radio Rock on Friday, June 6, 2025. Proceeds support CANFAR’s annual $1.5 million investments in research grants, national awareness campaigns, and community-based testing initiatives.
Video gallery
AIDSBEAT 27 – JUNE 7, 2024
AIDSBEAT 26 – JUNE 2, 2023
AIDSBEAT 27 Gallery
Meet the AIDSBEAT 28 Co-chairs
Christopher A. Guerreiro
Christopher A. Guerreiro, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, practises intellectual property dispute resolution and litigation, with an emphasis on patents and issues affecting the life sciences, healthcare, and other high-technology industries. Christopher has been a member of the firm since joining as a summer student in 2011. He is an editor of Norton Rose Fulbright's Pharma in Brief bulletin and leads a number of programmes related to associate development, substantive legal knowledge, and team-building within the firm. This is Christopher's second year as CANFAR's AIDSbeat concert Co-chair, and he and the Norton Rose Fulbright band, Sound Prediction, are the reigning Lexpert Cup Champions.
Mike Chalut
Mike Chalut is self-effacing, given to spontaneous outbursts of showtunes, loses keys and cards but never an audience—and he is ready to host CANFAR Rocks, our AIDSbeat concert, for the third year in a row! Over the years, Mike has put his infectious energy to work as a notable radio and television personality. Among his many accolades, Mike has hosted Breakfast Television, City News and KISS FM. He has interviewed A-list celebrities on PROUD FM, planned world-class events, interviewed Hollywood royalty on the red carpet, and hosted two popular TV shows, Wedding SOS and Kim’s Rude Awakenings. His new reality is producing TV shows that celebrate social inclusion and raising funds for non-profit organizations.
David Palumbo (Honorary)
David Palumbo has been an AIDSbeat concert-goer and Co-chair for years. David is a senior partner and Chair of the Transactions Practice Group in Baker McKenzie's Toronto office. David is a member of the Firm’s North American Capital Markets Steering Committee and Global Inclusion and Diversity Committee. He also serves as Chair of the Board of the You Can Play Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the inclusion of all in sports.
David was recently named one of the 2023 Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
Patricia Olasker (Event founder)
Patricia Olasker founded AIDSbeat 27 years ago and has grown it to become the most exciting event in Toronto's legal community. She is a senior partner at Davies and one of Canada’s leading lawyers in shareholder activism and M&A. Outside the firm, Patricia is an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, a member of the OSC’s CEO Advisory Council, former adviser to the chair of the OSC and past chair of the OSC’s Securities Advisory Committee. She is President of the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Association, Vice Chair of the Royal Ontario Museum Foundation Board and Vice Chair of Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research. Patricia has twice been honored as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by Women’s Executive Network.
Meet the bands!
the insecurities
Representing Davies law firm, The Insecurities are a rotating collective of friends and music lovers. Litigation partner Maureen Littlejohn is the driving force behind the band, bringing her powerhouse vocals and killer keyboard lines to the group. Her teacher husband, Alistair, has been playing guitar with the group for more than 10 years. Davies tax associate Connor Hasegawa is returning this year with his insane keyboard (and violin) chops and is bringing Litigation associate Dylan Young with him to add some sweet percussion. Davies alum-in-law Jess Newman returns with her powerful vocals to add some major soul to the group. Rounding out the band, Greg Legros and Athena Maikantis-Legros add monster vocals, Antony “Ant” East slaps the bass with mastery, newcomer John Arsenault adds some tasty guitar licks, and Dan McCormick pounds the skins with groove and precision. The Insecurities are thrilled to be back at the legendary El Mocambo to rock once more.
Each band is fundraising directly to support CANFAR’s mission, use this link to make a donation & show your support for their band.
coda conduct
In a turbulent world, the only constant is change. Coda Conduct is no exception. There are new band members. There is a new setlist. There is really loud new snare drum. There are three new leads on vocals. There are even new maracas. And there’s a whole new attitude (thanks in part to the maracas). But one thing hasn’t changed. Coda Conduct can still do any two of the following at the same time: play a rock show, raise loads of money for CANFAR, and chew bubble gum. And they’re all out of gum. Coda Conduct is: Frank Aita (bass), Alinka Angelova (vocals), Jaydeep Bhadra (guitar), Mike Denyszyn (keyboards), Miranda Lacalamita (vocals), Anna Russo (vocals), Steve Smolkin (guitar), Jason Tan (drums).
Each band is fundraising directly to support CANFAR’s mission, use this link to make a donation & show your support for their band.
sound prediction
Some say a rock band is nothing more than karaoke for the delusional. Yet from our first practice in a grungy basement rehearsal space, we knew it could be so much more. What started with transporting guitars via TTC in a bag of pillows has grown into dreams of a tour bus. A reason to acquire 31 flavours (and counting) of distortion pedals. A way to get in our cardio without touching a treadmill. A form of alternative musical worship. A way to guilt our friends into attending concerts we like — because we’re in them. To finally have something interesting to say when someone asks: “So, what do you do for fun?” United in studio and on stage as Sound Prediction, Kaitlin (vocals, keyboard), Will (guitar, vocals), Chris (bass), and Mitch (drums) know this truth: it’s a great feeling to answer, “I’m in a rock band.”
Each band is fundraising directly to support CANFAR’s mission, use this link to make a donation & show your support for their band.
blind trust
Playing classic rock for more than 20 years and still lovin’ it. ‘Nough said.
Each band is fundraising directly to support CANFAR’s mission, use this link to make a donation & show your support for their band.
screaming
legals
The Torkin Manes Screaming Legals first played AIDSbeat in 2019. Over the years, the band has evolved and expanded to include additional members of the firm. This year’s line-up for CANFAR Rocks 2025 features Chris Valente (bass), Jeff Simpson (keyboards), Stephen Warren (vocals), Ryan Hauk (guitar), Tyler Adams (guitar) and Luigi Iantosca (drums). While each member brings their unique musical talent and stage presence, they all share the same passion and enthusiasm for performing for an amazing cause and are looking forward to headlining the mainstage this year and rocking it out under the neon lights at Toronto’s historic El Mocambo!
Each band is fundraising directly to support CANFAR’s mission, use this link to make a donation & show your support for their band.
vaughan halen
Vaughan Halen is PWC’s AIDSBEAT band for 2025!
Each band is fundraising directly to support CANFAR’s mission, use this link to make a donation & show your support for their band.
History of AIDSBEAT
In the 1990s, the HIV/AIDS epidemic was at its height in Toronto. No treatment was available at the time to fight the disease. For many, a diagnosis equaled certain death. A group of lawyers, tired of watching the epidemic devastate their community, decided to fight back.
CANFAR Rocks, the AIDSbeat concert, was created almost 30 years ago to raise money in support of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), and its mission to fund all aspects of HIV research – from increased prevention efforts, opportunities for testing, improved health outcomes for people living with HIV in Canada, and reduced stigma. That research has had a huge impact: People can now access life-saving treatment and care. However, we can not allow ourselves to become complacent. Over 63,000 people in Canada living with HIV and on average, 4 people newly acquire HIV every 24 hours in Canada.
You won’t want to miss…
People's Choice Award
We encourage you to contribute and support your favourite band by voting for the People's Choice Award. Each vote is $5 and all proceeds go to CANFAR!
Exclusive raffle
Details coming soon.
