Upcoming “Vet Jam” 2024
Upcoming “Vet Jam” 2024
Bradford Vets Club Brings Music and Fun Together for a Great Cause
Photos / Vet Jam-Bradford, PA
The 2024 Vet Jam music festival in Bradford, Pennsylvania is almost here! Year after year, the Vet Jam has been a community staple and a mecca for fun, music, togetherness, and unity for a cause. It’s looking like Vet Jam 2024 will not disappoint. The Jam kicks off at the Bradford Vets Club, located at 94 Barbour St., Bradford, PA on Friday, February 16th.
The Vets Club will be filled with live music, fun, and of course refreshments. Friday admission is only $5 at the door and guests can enjoy the festival kickoff starting promptly at 7:30pm on the event center main stage. Saturday’s festivities will feature music all day on both the event center’s main stage and the club stage in the bar area. Saturday’s admission fee will be $10 at the door. Sunday looks to go out with a bang, with a full day of club stage performances starting at 11:00am. There will be no admission fee on Sunday.
This will all go down at the Bradford Vets Club, a VFW and social hotspot for local veterans. VFW locations like the Vets Club are important for veterans to receive access to important resources, but they also provide camaraderie and events for veterans and their families. For Bradford Vets Club, it doesn’t just stop at the Vet Jam. They hold a variety of events throughout the year, like their weekly “Tailgates and Touchdowns” football social held during football season. The Vets Club boasts a unique approach to its representation of VFW values, with its large event center perfect for all sorts of festivities.
I spoke with Ralph Brooks, a light and sound manager as well as an events coordinator for Vet Jam. His stage lighting and sound company, S&B Sound and Productions, has been handling technical elements of Vet Jam for years. Besides him, Vet Jam is driven by members of the community. The brains behind the operation are an aggregate of the local music community and volunteers from the VFW Auxiliary. “It really does take a group to get this done,” said Ralph.
The lineup of performers is certainly not one note (no pun intended), and the variety of genres and artists will ensure that everyone will be able to listen to something they like. “We’ve got everything from acoustic guys who are nice and easy, all the way up to some heavy metal bands,” remarked Brooks. Some notable performers are Travis Happoldt, Rev 13, and of course, Ralph Brooks’s very own Vinny & The Mudflaps will be taking the stage on Saturday at 6:15pm!
Ralph’s love for music came on at an early age. “I started playing the guitar as a teenager because I thought I could get girls,” said Ralph. He remarks that while his musical stylings weren’t so effective in winning over the ladies, it ended up “being a huge part of [his] existence”. He’s been in bands ever since and is looking forward to performing in the Jam this year.
In fact, many of the artists performing have some sort of involvement in the production of Vet Jam as well. Like Ralph, many of the musicians get to play at an event they contributed to. “It’s its own reward,” said Ralph. This rewarding atmosphere is the sort of spirit that turns a festival like Vet Jam into something for the greater good.
100% of the funds from Vet Jam go directly to supporting veteran programs in Pennsylvania and beyond. Vet Jam is able to do this by allocating funds directly to some amazing beneficiaries. This year, three wonderful programs are receiving all of the love from this year’s festival.
One of them is Friends of the Fischer House, a home in Pittsburgh that provides lodging for military and veteran families while loved ones receive greater medical care. Another beneficiary is the LEEK Preserve, a camp environment with outdoor activities that gives veterans a place to be together to bond and heal. Finally, Wreaths Across America will benefit from the 2024 Jam. They organize wreath-laying ceremonies to remember and honor those who gave themselves for our liberty.
So, if you’re itching for some live music this weekend or if you’d like to support local veterans, totally check out the Bradford Vet Jam! More information and flyers can be found on the Vet Jam-Bradford, PA Facebook Page.