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.

We’re participating in Give to the Max Day this year because we want to expand our reach in 2016. Can you help by making a tax-deductible contribution?
 
We’re fortunate to have a $1000 matching fund this year, which means you have a unique opportunity to double your donation.
 

Here are the ways we’re making an impact:

• For three years in a row, we have contributed to Music Resource Center-Duluth (Brad lived/played in Duluth in his final years).
• We’ve given scholarships to 11 high school students in rural Northeastern Minnesota (where Brad grew up). Learn about our scholarship recipients.
• We’ve contributed to a visiting artist fund at St. Cloud State University (Brad’s alma mater). Our donation was used to bring in some top-notch guest performers for the day of percussion.

Since the Friends of Brad is completely volunteer-run, your contribution goes a lot farther. Kind thanks for your support through the years! Click here to make a donation today.

September 24, 2015 – For the third year in a row, the Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation (FOBMF) is organizing a fun-filled fall festival in the community-minded spirit of Germany’s Oktoberfest tradition. The BradtoberFest Run/Rawk/Crawl takes place in Duluth on Sunday, October 4. The event connects the Duluth area music, craft beer, and running communities.

BradtoberFest memorializes Duluth musician Brad Rozman. It offers participants a unique opportunity to listen to live local music while sampling craft beer and navigating a path linking local breweries and pubs.

“The idea is to give participants a sampling of some of the best aspects of life in the area,” says Troy Rogers, FOBMF president. “We’ve got an extraordinary music scene, which Brad used to be a part of, as well as exceptional craft beer. And we’ve become known for our active outdoor pursuits. We think it makes sense to celebrate these tremendous local assets.”

Participants can either run or walk the approximately 3-mile route that begins at Bent Paddle Brewing Company, stops at a number of breweries and pubs, and finally culminates at the Redstar Lounge (Fitger’s complex) for a finish line celebration featuring food, music, belly dancing and a craft beer-centric silent auction.

Events organized by the Friends of Brad include elements of humor and absurdity. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and sport “tighty-whities” or “Bradley Briefs” as a goofy tribute to the foundation’s fun-loving namesake.

Proceeds will benefit young musicians, supporting programs such as the Duluth Music Resource Center and FOBMF’s scholarship, fellowship, and other charitable programs.

Ticket information and further info:

BradtoberFest Run/Rawk/Crawl – Sunday, October 4 – 11:30am – 6pm

Music starts at 11:30am at Bent Paddle Brewing Co. (1912 W Michigan Street, Duluth, MN)
Registration fee: $25 ($30 event day, registration begins at 11am)
BradtoberFest Tickets: bradtoberfest2015.eventbrite.com

Registration includes: a 4 oz. beer sample and live music at each stop, plus entrance to the Redstar Lounge finish line party.

Performers: The Boomchucks, The Brothers Burn Mountain, Hannah Rey, Ingeborg von Agassiz, Lord Montague, Portrait of a Drowned Man, Robot Rickshaw, Tribal Alchemie, Two Harbors Ukulele Group (THUG), and Wood Blind!

Kind thanks to our generous sponsors and donors, we could not be successful without them!  They’ve shown their support for young local musicians. Be sure to show your support for them! http://bradfest.org/sponsors/

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 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, including BradFest, a music festival. 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.

For the fifth year in a row, the Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation (FOBMF) is offering a scholarship opportunity for young musicians in rural Northeastern Minnesota. High school students graduating in 2015 who plan to pursue musical endeavors while attending college are invited to apply.
 

The Foundation will grant two scholarships for $500 in 2015. The one-time scholarships are open to student musicians residing in rural areas of St. Louis, Itasca, Lake, and Cook counties (excluding Duluth). Preference will be given to students planning to major in music and pursue music-related careers. Students with strong musical backgrounds who plan to participate in performance activities such as ensembles, bands, or choirs in college are welcome to apply.
 

“Thanks to wonderful community support and the success of our fall BradtoberFest event, we are able to increase our scholarship awards this year,” says Troy Rogers, FOBMF president. “Nine young musicians have now benefitted from our scholarships, which is very gratifying in a time when resources for aspiring musicians are so lacking. It’s a fitting way to pay tribute to our namesake Brad Rozman.”
 

Past FOBMF scholarship recipients include: Ricky “Chip” Sundstrom, Two Harbors; Aaron Wilcox, Virginia; Austin Becicka, Virginia; Ginger Lund, Deer River; Kimberly Rice, Virginia; Haylee Donnelson, Mesabi East; Justin Bohrer, Two Harbors; Bryon Klimek, Chisholm; and Alayna Starr, Virginia. More about FOBMF’s talented scholarship recipients: http://friendsofbrad.org/initiatives/scholarship-recipients/
 

The scholarship application deadline is Friday, May 1, 2015 at 5pm (CST). More information and an application are available online: www.friendsofbrad.org/scholarships.

The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation (FOBMF) will channel the celebratory, community-minded spirit of Germany’s Oktoberfest with an upcoming festival that connects Duluth area music, craft beer, and running communities.

The BradtoberFest Run/Rawk/Crawl will take place in Duluth on Sunday, October 5. The event offers participants a unique opportunity to listen to live music and taste 4-ounce samples of local craft beer while traversing a path that links local breweries and beer-centric venues.

Participants can either run or walk the approximately 3-mile route that begins at Bent Paddle Brewing Company, stops at a number of breweries and pubs and finally culminates at the Fitger’s complex courtyard in a finish line celebration featuring food, music, games, and a silent auction. An after party with additional music will follow at the Red Herring Lounge.

Events organized by the Friends of Brad always include elements of humor and absurdity, in keeping with the playful disposition of their namesake, Brad Rozman. Participants can choose to be pied in the face at the finish line and are encouraged to wear costumes and sport “tighty-whities” underwear.

Proceeds will benefit young musicians, supporting programs such as the Duluth Music Resource Center and FOBMF’s scholarship, fellowship, and other charitable programs.

Find out more at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bradtoberfest-registration-12682841721

The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation (FOBMF) is delighted to announce a scholarship opportunity for high school musicians in rural Northeastern Minnesota. Students graduating in 2014 who plan to pursue musical endeavors while attending college are encouraged to apply.

The Foundation will grant two scholarships for $300 this year. These are one-time scholarships open to student musicians residing in rural areas of St. Louis, Itasca, Lake, and Cook counties (excluding Duluth). Preference will be given to students that plan to major in music and pursue music-related careers. However, students with strong music backgrounds that plan to participate in performance activities such as ensembles, bands, or choirs in college are also welcome to apply.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer scholarships to young area musicians for the fourth year in a row,” says Troy Rogers, FOBMF president. “After this year we will have given nine scholarships. Being able to cultivate the passion and potential shown by these young adults is gratifying. It’s a powerful way to remember and pay tribute to our namesake Brad Rozman, who was a talented percussionist and Iron Range native.”

Past FOBMF scholarship recipients include: Austin Becicka, Virginia; Ginger Lund, Deer River; Kimberly Rice, Virginia; Haylee Donnelson, Mesabi East; Justin Bohrer, Two Harbors; Bryon Klimek, Chisholm; and Alayna Starr, Virginia. More about FOBMF’s talented scholarship recipients.

The scholarship application deadline is Thursday, May 1, 2014 at midnight (CST). More information and an application are available online: www.friendsofbrad.org/scholarships.

The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation will hold its first annual BradtoberFest Run/Walk/Crawl and Afterparty on Saturday, October 5, 2013. The event will celebrate Duluth’s craft beer, music, and running communities, offering participants a unique opportunity to sample local beer and music while traversing a path that links local breweries and beer-centric venues.

“Duluth Mayor Don Ness dubbed Duluth the ‘Craft Beer Capital of Minnesota’ earlier this year and observed that the ethos of craft beer culture transcends the beverage itself. We are in full agreement with him. Craft beer is a conscious choice that is intimately entangled with healthy lifestyles, outdoor recreation, seasonal beauty, and authentic local art and music cultures,” explains Friends of Brad’s President Troy Rogers. “In that spirit, the BradtoberFest Run/Walk/Crawl will be a celebration of the very best of Duluth: a broad showcase of local music and craft beer in the crisp air of early October, with the beautiful city and Lake Superior as its backdrop—a sensorially rich experience not to be missed.”

Proceeds will benefit young musicians, supporting programs such as the Duluth Music Resource Center and FOBMF’s scholarship, fellowship, and other charitable programs.

BradtoberFest Run/Walk/Crawl
Saturday, October 5
Starting at noon at Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
1912 W Michigan Street, Duluth, MN
Registration fee: $25* 
BradtoberFest.eventbrite.com

Here is the full schedule for the day’s events:

11:30 am: registration opens at Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
Noon: Welcoming toast by Duluth Mayor Don Ness
12:15-4 pm: Run/Walk/Crawl, with music and craft beer samples at each stop:

• Bent Paddle Brewing Co.: Two Harbors Ukulele Group
• Canal Park Brewing: Preston Gunderson
• Dubh Linn Pub: Hannah Rey
• 7 West Taphouse: performance by Jaze, featuring craft beer from Castle Danger Brewing and Borealis Fermentery
• Carmody: Tribal Alchemie
• Tycoon’s: Snöbarn

10 pm: Afterparty at Tycoons (free admission for all; Run/Walk/Crawl Participants get a free drink!). Performances:

• BNLX
• the Boomchucks
• Lion or Gazelle
• Jaze

Congratulations to Byron Klimek and Alayna Starr, our 2013 scholarship recipients!

Alayna Starr is a Virginia High School graduate. Inspired by her aunt to play flute, she went on to win many awards for her solo and ensemble performances during high school. Alayna also plays piano and was active in pep and marching bands and musicals. She will attend Concordia College minoring in music performance and majoring in finance. Listen to Alayna perform Doppler’s Hungarian Rhapsody.

A graduate of Chisolm High School, Byron Klimek recently discovered a love of the cello while watching a performance of the Minnesota Orchestra. He quickly learned to play and served as the Associate Principal Cellist for the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra in 2012. Byron also plays the clarinet and took part in concert, jazz, pep and city bands. Byron will major in Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin at Superior. Watch this video to hear Justin play Bach’s Prelude to Cello Suite 2 in D Minor.

The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation (FOBMF) is pleased to announce a scholarship opportunity for young musicians in rural Northeastern Minnesota. Two scholarships of $300 are available to students graduating in 2013 who plan to pursue musical endeavors while attending college.

This one-time scholarship is open to students residing in St. Louis (*excluding Duluth), Itasca, Lake, and Cook counties. Preference will be given to students who plan to major in music, but those who intend to participate in performance activities such as ensembles, bands or choirs can also apply.

“Our namesake, Brad Rozman was a talented musician who grew up on the Iron Range,” says Troy Rogers, FOBMF president. “He was keenly aware of the need for additional encouragement of aspiring musicians in this region. Our organization seeks to develop and enhance opportunities for area musicians. The scholarship program is one small piece of that ambitious goal.”

Past FOBMF scholarship recipients include: Austin Becicka, Virginia; Ginger Lund, Deer River; Kimberly Rice, Virginia; Haylee Donnelson, Mesabi East; and Justin Bohrer, Two Harbors.

The scholarship application deadline is Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at midnight (CST). More information and an application are available at: www.friendsofbrad.org/scholarships.

BradFest 2012 took place August 3-4 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Two Harbors, MN.

Moving to the fairgrounds gave the fest the room that was needed to grow, as well as an indoor stage in case of rain, plenty of parking, and on-site camping for attendees, staff, and performers.

While you wait to attend next year, check out the following videos to get sense for the festival.