Once a year, Bradford area musicians get together for two reasons: to rock out and honor veterans.
The yearly event — Vet Jam — will take the stage for its seventh year this Saturday at the John C. Roche VFW Post 212. Doors will open at noon, and performances will begin at 12:45 p.m. with “The Star Spangled Banner” sung by Haylee Leatherbarrow. The first band will take the stage at 1 p.m.
Proceeds from the event will once again go to the Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation.
“We always say every year ‘I think this is going to be our biggest one,’” but this one probably will be the biggest yet, said Vet Jam committee member Sandi Rimer.
Attendees will get to see the talents of numerous area musicians.
Set to perform are bands including Second Act, Dog Day Sunrise, Remedy, Marshmellow Overcoat, Counterfeit, Fat Lip, Entropys End, Cursed Sons, Afraid of Human and Spoiled Leftovers. Acoustic acts will be Randy Andreano, Jim Ronan, Tyler Calkins, Mike Lundy, RCx2, Brianna Blankenship, Rockmaninov Unplugged, Dan Roche and Low Gauge.
New this year, the musical acts will be spread between two rooms, said Sandi Rimer, one of the event organizers. She explained that in the past, they would all play in the Events Center, with bands performing for 45 minutes each and acoustic musicians playing 15-minute sets while bands prepared for their sets.
This year, bands will still play for 45 minutes in the Events Center, but the acoustic acts will now have their own 45-minute sets right inside the Vets Club. Set start times will be staggered so music fans can go back and forth.
The new staging means it will be easier for listeners to enjoy the acoustic acts, according to Rimer.
“Those guys are all so talented,” she said of the acoustic acts.
There are a couple of bands Rimer’s excited will be playing for the first time at Vet Jam.
This year, Entropys End, an established local band that has not been performing, will get together for the event.
Also, Warren band Afraid of Human contacted Rimer about playing Vet Jam. The band opened for Stone Sour when Zippo brought them to Bradford in August.
All of the musicians will play with the end goal of raising money for veterans.
Rimer said the idea for the event started as a way for local musicians to socialize with others and listen to each other play. Someone suggested the event would be a great way to raise money for a charitable cause, and the Vet Jam was born.
Rimer is thrilled that the Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation is the recipient. Also, every cent the organization raises is used for its cause.
“Not one person in the foundation gets paid. Nobody,” she noted.
She said Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation Chairman Michael Gould is a local native, too.
Also, “a lot of the guys in the bands are vets,” she said.
The Pennsylvania Veterans Foundations supports Pennsylvania veterans and their families through several programs, including helping veterans who need shelter or necessities; providing aid and comfort to veterans and their families; assisting veterans who need help obtaining their federal, state or local benefits; educating the public on the sacrifices of Pennsylvania veterans; and more.
The organization also awards grants to other programs and organizations that serve Pennsylvania veterans and their families.
For more information on the organization, visit paveterans.org.
One of the things Rimer wants to see more of going forward is corporate sponsorships. Corporate sponsorships would mean more money would go to the Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation after each Vet Jam.
The auxiliary is helping raise money by putting on a “beautiful Chinese auction,” Rimer added. She noted they will be putting auction baskets together toward the middle to end of this week with items mostly donated by individuals.
Any businesses or individuals looking to support the event can contact Rimer at 558-7860 or contact Casey Smith from Hero radio.
T-shirts will be available for sale at the show for $10 each. Anyone who wants one before the event can call Rimer or get a hold of the VFW.
The T-shirt logo was designed by Anthony Cavallero, who also designed the event flyers and made the event Facebook page. Bottorf Embroidery offered its services, too.
Admission is $10 at the door offers for the event, which offers a “family friendly environment,” said Rimer. The Events Center is nonsmoking, she added, though she noted there is smoking in the Vets Club.
There will be food and nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages for sale, courtesy of the VFW. She said the VFW always donates to the event’s cause, too.
The last band will take the stage at 10:15 pm., with the show ending about 11 p.m.
