Two Bradford Churches are working together to launch a new kind of church service in town. Grace Lutheran and Open Arms Community Churches are teaming up to start “The Remix” on Thursday nights at the Grace Lutheran Community Life Center.

“Hip Hop is at this point, a large part of our culture. There are a lot of people in our community who live the hip hop culture, and the church is not connecting with them,” says Josh Hatcher, Outreach Coordinator at Open Arms.

“The Remix” service will be rap worship music with local Christian Hip Hop Group Panic Attack, which is made up of Justin Willoughby, and Larry Petry, and then a “remixed” video version of the weekly church service from Open Arms. Read the rest of this entry »

April is going to bring more than showers to Bradford this year. The Generations Guitar Workshop will be bringing together area musicians for a day filled with learning, jamming, even an instrument exchange. It is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2008, at Fretz Middle School in the large instruction room. The highlight of the workshop and evening performance will be Dan Peters and The West Side Winders from Chicago.

Dan Peters

Dan Peters has been named “Chicago’s Hottest Guitarist”. He will be teaching the Workshop’s Master Class, “Swingin’ Surfabilly Guitar Playin’: Know Your Roots!!” Dan will take students into a detailed analysis of several original compositions and how he developed his own unique musical voice through an appreciation of many different genres. Rockabilly, surf, blues, jazz, country and heavy metal all figure prominently in Dan’s self-proclaimed “Surfabilly” sound and he encourages all students to do their homework and “know your roots!!” Some of the influences Dan names are Brian Setzer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Wes Montgomery, Joe Satriani, Dick Dale, Johnny Cash, Steve Vai, Jimmy Bryant and, of course, William Shatner. Read the rest of this entry »

First Night Bradford 2008 was really a lot of fun. Venues all over Bradford featured live acts from local bands to professional entertainers. Here is some footage from a few of them. Local Fretzican Idol Emily Marshall, Juggler Jeff Bach, and The Amazing Amos, The Amish Magician.

First Night is a community celebration of the New Year through the arts.

It is an alcohol-free, public festival with both local and regional talent.

There are events and fun filled entertainment for all ages. Best of all, it is accessible and affordable for everyone.

Check the First Night Bradford web site for complete details and this year’s schedule.

There will be events at locations all over Bradford the entire evening. There is so much going on, it’s difficult to take in everything. Fortunately, for $5.00 you can get a First Night Bradford button that gives you admission to everything. This helps defray the cost of the celebration including several professional entertainers. The celebration culminates at midnight on the Town Square with the 10th annual ball-drop and fireworks grande finale.

Here are some of this year’s featured entertainers:
Read the rest of this entry »

We recently received a message from John Siepierski, a guitarist and the fiddler for a new local band called ‘DANK’. DANK plays several different genres of music including alternative rock, indie, and New England traditional dance music.

DANK has been scheduled to play First Night Bradford. As a late addition to the First Night line-up, they won’t appear on the printed schedule. They’re scheduled to perform at Emery Towers at 10:30 pm. DANK will be playing traditional Irish and French-Canadian music on fiddle, guitar, electric bass, and various percussion. The band brings modern and main stream influences into a traditional performances.

DANK’s members are all local to Bradford. They include John Siepierski on fiddle, Brian Thompson on guitar and vocals, and Jay Ervin on percussion.

You can find more information at the band’s web site: http://www.dank-music.com

Grace Lutheran Ministries and Open Arms Community Church
are teaming up this year to bring local trick or
treaters a good time in Bradford.

“Trunk or Treat” is the name of the event, and the concept is simple: church members from
both churches will show up to the Community Life Center Parking Lot behind Country Fair
on Mechanic Street, armed with Candy, and wildly decorated car trunks.

“It’s a way for us to show love to our community, by giving them a good time,” says Josh
Hatcher, Outreach Pastor at Open Arms Community Church .

The Community Life Center will be abuzz with games and activities for kids as well during
trick or treating time, from 6-7:30PM

Then, from 8-10, Open Arms ill be hosting “The Revolution Halloween Bash”. That event
will feature a concert from local band “Until Daybreak” and “Dank” as well as a movie,
and a good time for teenagers and young adults.

Youth Leader Justin Willoughby says, “We wanted to offer something positive for teens to
do on Halloween Night. It’s going to be a safe environment.”

Additionally, this year’s Halloween Bash is meant to be a safe place for teens and young adults to stay off the streets and have a good time this Halloween.

Music will be provided by local bands Until Daybreak and Dank.

Candy, Costumes, and Movies…. and a good, clean, safe, fun time.