Bradsgiving aims to rock you awake from your Thanksgiving food coma

 

The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation (FOBMF) is organizing a merry post-Thanksgiving celebration with music, a silent auction, and bake sale. Bradsgiving will take place at the Shop Coffeehouse and 218 Taphouse in Virginia on Friday, November 27 from 5–10 p.m. The event includes music by Rich Mattson & Germaine Gemberling as well as Horse Fzce.

 

The FOBMF memorializes percussionist and Virginia native Brad Rozman and seeks to celebrate and cultivate young Minnesota musicians. Their programming began in 2010 with the summer BradFest music festival in Two Harbors and has continued with fall BradtoberFest events in Virginia and Duluth.

 

The Friends of Brad is a volunteer-run nonprofit, whose events benefit young musicians, supporting programs such as the Duluth Music Resource Center and a scholarship program for rural Northeastern Minnesotans. The Friends of Brad awarded two scholarships earlier this year to Iron Range students: Samantha Mutchler and Steven Tedman. Mutchler is a graduate of Grand Rapids High School now majoring in music education at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Tedman is a graduate of Mesabi East High School studying opera singing at Rowan University in New Jersey.

 

“We’re excited to be back on the Range for Bradsgiving, particularly in partnership with our friends at the Shop Coffeehouse and 218 Taphouse. We’re big fans of all that they do to promote and enhance the local music scene,” says Troy Rogers, FOBMF president.

 

“We are absolutely thrilled to host such an amazing event that memorializes Brad and supports young local musicians,” says Carly Gobats of the 218. “The Iron Range has an incredible music scene and we feel it’s important to showcase the talent from the area. We have been doing our part by offering live music from area musicians Thursday and Friday evenings.”

 

*To donate or volunteer, contact info@bradfest.org. Or simply drop off a donation of baked goods at the Shop Coffeehouse all day before the event (until 4pm). *

 

Further info:

 

Bradsgiving

Friday, November 27 from 5–10 p.m.

Silent auction and bake sale to start at 5pm at the Shop Coffeehouse (235 Chestnut St., Virginia). Music begins at 5:30 p.m. with Horse Fzce (Heather Surla and Eric Krenz) next door at the 218 Taphouse.

 

 

About the Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation

Bradley E. Rozman’s life was tragically cut short in May 2009. The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was initially created by a group of Brad’s family and close friends to honor his memory. The Foundation celebrates and cultivates young Minnesota musicians through a variety of programs, all involving music. For more information or to contribute to the Foundation, contact info@friendsofbrad.org or visit http://www.friendsofbrad.org.

 

About Bradley E. Rozman

Brad Rozman discovered a love for drumming at a young age and pursued this passion with vigor for the rest of his life. In the early days, he formed garage bands with his musician friends and led the drum line in the VHS marching band. After high school, he went on to study percussion performance at St. Cloud State University and the University of Illinois-Urbana. When he returned to Minnesota from graduate school, Brad became involved in many music-making endeavors in the Duluth area, most notably as the drummer for the bands High Volt Rustler and Equal Exchange.

 

 

 

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