Billy Talent is coming out of writing and relaxation mode Saturday (March 15) to aid the victims of last month's Queen Street West fire in Toronto.

The multi-platinum rock act will join members of Alexisonfire and numerous other bands for a benefit concert and fundraising event at the venerable Bovine Sex Club, across the street from the devastated strip of shops and apartments.

Darryl Fine, owner of the Bovine and the adjacent Shanghai Cowgirl diner, says the fundraising efforts are taking place all weekend and those who can't make it can drop by the restaurant day or evening with donations of money or clothing and hand to any member of his staff. All proceeds will go to the fire victims. Donations can also be made to the Queen Street Fire Fund at any Scotiabank across the country.

"We're going to consult with councillor Adam Vaughan," says Fine. "There's a victim's list of 65 names. He has a methodology to distribute the funds."

There is an auction tonight (Thursday) from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Shanghai; bands, including Montreal's Trigger Effect, on Friday night at the Bovine; and the main event on Saturday, also featuring The Creepshow, Latefallen, A Primitive Evolution, Hostile Takeover, and Alexisonfire side project Black Lungs. Entry is $20 minimum at the door only; there are no advance ticket sales.

"The customers across the street are like lost ships now. They drift in for meals and drinks and don't have that sense of grounding," says Fine, who has operated the Bovine in the same location for 17 years. "A few of them have stayed in the neighbourhood and it's important to the club, and to me, to make sure that we make a statement between the Shangahi Cowgirl and the Bovine that the people in the neighbourhood are experiencing some business and emotional trauma along with them. We're trying to reach out and make sure that our efforts are in their mind and that we're not ignoring their situation."

The February 20 blaze destroyed buildings on the south side of Queen Street West between Bathurst and Portland streets. Just last year, the block was declared a heritage conservation district by the City of Toronto.

"I feel sad for the whole area because there was some significant anchor tenants for that block -- Preloved, Suspect Video, Duke's Cycle and National Sound. It's devastating," says Fine. "We know that the foot traffic is going to be less until people build replacement businesses. We know that we're going to miss the customers across the street specifically on top of all those stores that we're known for 17 years or more. Some of those people were in those apartments longer than the Bovine's been in existence."

In addition to tonight's early evening auction at the Shanghai, the Saturday night concert with Billy Talent includes a raffle. Photographer Kid With Camera has donated prints of the six-alarm fire; there is a tap machine from Jagermeister, haircuts from Coupe Bizarre salon, and clothing from Atticus. "We're going to try and double the door cover," says Fine. "We're trying to raise 3000 to 5000 dollars for these people."

Each band on Saturday will play four or five songs with Billy Talent taking the stage at the end of the evening. "It's a lot of bands playing a little bit of music," says Fine, "but we've left Billy Talent as much room as they want in their set."