East Brunswick band to host second annual charity event
Bobfest, organized by the band Wrath of Bob, has
3 shows this weekend
EAST BRUNSWICK –– Two college sophomores will do their part this weekend to reverse the idea that the younger generation is apathetic.
Richard Curtis and Scott Kuchinsky, both 19-year-old East Brunswick residents attending The College of New Jersey, Ewing, will host the second annual Bobfest charity event at Playhouse 22, Dunhams Corner Road. The music festival will benefit the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which according to Kuchinsky, is a nonprofit organization that helps seriously and chronically ill children feel better about being in the hospital. The foundation brings in clowns, helps to pay for game rooms and entertainment centers, and puts video games in children’s rooms. It also grants children’s wishes.
Last year’s Bobfest raised more than $1,700 and helped grant the wish of a young girl named Ashley, who was born without the use of her arms. Ashley and her family were flown to New York, where she fulfilled her desire to sing the national anthem in front of a large audience at a New York Mets game.
Kuchinsky said that, after all the hard work he and Curtis put into Bobfest, they were relieved when the event was over last year. However, after they received a picture of Ashley and learned that her wish had been granted because of their event, they decided they had to do Bobfest again.
"There was so much positive feedback afterwards," Kuchinsky said.
Curtis and Kuchinsky first became involved with the Starlight Children’s Foundation during an event called Music for a Cause, held at East Brunswick High School while they were students there. During the event, several bands played for different charities, and Curtis and Kuchinsky, then seniors, chose to play for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Afterward, they continued their relationship with the foundation and later formed the idea of Bobfest.
The bands featured in this weekend’s festival will be Kuchinsky and Curtis’ own band, Wrath of Bob, as well as Mike Kovacs and the Post-Modern Tribe, Central Jersey’s Not All There and the final performances of Captain Falafel and the Technicolor Cheez Wiz. Although most of the music is rock ’n’ roll, each band brings its own flavor, Kuchinsky said.
"We were able to get a little bit of variety," he said.
Playhouse 22 has generously donated its space for the event, and for that, Kuchinsky said, he and Curtis are extremely grateful.
"They were delightful to work with," he said, referring to Playhouse 22 representatives Pete Riga and Adam Neary, who is the son of East Brunswick Mayor Bill Neary. The mayor himself helped Bobfest find the venue last year.
The majority of the funds raised at Bobfest come from ticket sales. About 280 tickets were sold last year for the two shows. Money is also raised through a raffle, the sale of refreshments and from a donation jar, Kuchinsky said.
This year, Kuchinsky and Curtis will also sell a final studio album, titled Bob Is Dead. Those interested in having their name appear in the CD booklet can make a donation of $10, $25 or $100 to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Bobfest will have three shows this weekend at Playhouse 22, from 8 to 11 p.m. tomorrow; and 4 to 7 p.m. and 8-11 p.m on Saturday. Tickets are $8. Advance purchase is encouraged. For more information or to pre-order tickets, call Kuchinsky at (732)254-6086, or e-mail Curtis and Kuchinsky at [email protected] or visit the Internet Web site at www.angelfire.com/band/wob.
Direct donations may be sent to Starlight Children’s Foundation, c/o Bobfest, 1560 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.