Rufus and Martha Wainwright to launch initiative to help musicians with cancer record music

Siblings Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright are due to launch a new initiative that will help musicians with cancer record music – find out more below.

Dubbed Folk Cancer: The Kate McGarrigle Project, the initiative is inspired by the Wainwright sibling’s late mother Kate McGarrigle, who died in 2010 from cancer. McGarrigle was herself a folk singer-songwriter.

“Near the end of our mother’s life, music became everything to her,” Rufus said in a statement, per Rolling Stone. “It was clear that the process of writing, performing, singing — and singing with others — was hugely helpful to her.”

His sister Martha added: “Because of that, my brother and I continue to provide support for musicians and songwriters struggling with cancer.”

Folk Cancer: The Kate McGarrigle Project is going to be launched on December 3 in collaboration with non-profit organisation Cancer Can Rock at a launch party that will include special performances from both Rufus and Martha Wainwright and stories from Cancer Can Rock founder Jim Ebert.

Per Cancer Can Rock, Folk Cancer: The Kate McGarrigle Project will offer “musicians the opportunity to create, express, and record their music during what is, for them, a very unsettling time”.

Donations are now open to support Folk Cancer – you can make a donation here.

Martha Wainwright said in a video explaining the ethos of Folk Cancer: “What we really wanted to try and do is find a way to give money to artists who are struggling with cancer. Musicians who want to make music – creating music is very healing and can be very helpful during the process of difficult times.”

Kate McGarrigle and her sister Anna enjoyed an established career that began in the 1960s, They sang in both French and English and released ten albums together, from 1975 to 2005.

In their career they collaborated with Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, and saw their songs covered by artists including Emmylou Harris and Billy Bragg.

Both Rufus and Martha Wainwright have in the past launched a cancer charity foundation, The Kate McGarrigle Foundation.

Earlier this month, Martha announced the dates for her 2025 UK and Ireland tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of her self-titled debut album. Check out the full list of dates here and get your tickets here.