PWR-ers Rock for Bradford at Bradfest Fundraiser This Saturday, Oct. 25

Bradfest is coming! Bradford School’s rocking parents night out is set for Saturday, October 25^th at Tierney’s Tavern. The show features Bradford mom- and dad-bands—who also happen to be in Parents Who Rock—playing music to raise money to benefit the Bradford PTA.

This time around, four performers/bands are donating their time and musical talents to help raise funds for their children’s school. 

Bradford mom singer/guitarist Stacia Thiel will kick off the show with an acoustic set of alt-country meets indie-folk originals and covers. Thiel did an amazing version of "So Like Candy" at PWR's Elvis and Elvis show in February. 

Next up will be MMY-FM, featuring Bradford parents Ross Yustein on guitar and Connie and Greg Mattison on vocals and keyboards/vocals. Joining the Bradford trio are Watchung dad Howard Freund on bass, and Paul McKeon, who used to live in Montclair, on drums. MMY-FM plays a mix of great rock ‘n’ roll classics, guaranteed to get everyone up and dancing.

The third band on the bill, Sock Monster, finds cool songs from bands like the Kinks, Clash, and Squeeze and mixes them up with alternative and power pop gems like The Records’ “Starry Eyes” and the Plimsouls' “Million Miles Away.”

“We play the stuff we love, the music that would be on the radio if we were programming a great station,” says guitarist John Paul Uva, dad to two Bradford fifth graders. Montclair resident Jim Kvoriak, on vocals and guitar, and two other dads, Andy Yeates from Verona on drums, and Bob Terhune on vocals and bass, round out the band.

Filling out the bill are The Plimptones, with Bradford dad Mike Potenza on guitar, along with several lawyer friends from the firm Debevoise and Plimpton, who got together to play the Law Rocks Battle of the Bands at the Gramercy Theater in New York in December. Potenza has also played with Eugene Chrysler Band. 

In addition, Bradford parent Joe DeLuca will emcee the event. T-shirts featuring a Bradfest logo designed by Bradford mom Debra Pirkle will be on sale and there will also be a 50/50 raffle that night.

This is the third year Bradfest has been held. The PTA came up with the idea in 2010 to take advantage of the number of Bradford parents who played in rock ’n’ roll bands in their spare time and give them the opportunity to raise some money for their children's school. 

The event raises lots of money for the Bradford PTA. It also give the school’s parents a great, casual way to kick back, reconnect with old friends and show their support for fellow parents who play music.

The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 from the Bradford PTA website, or $20 at the door that night. Tierney’s is located at 136 Valley Road. For more information, visit www.bradfordpta.org or like Bradfest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bradfest-A-Benefit-for-Bradford-School/467122956682620.