Pash is one of four local bands that will play an all-ages show at The Loft in Fredericksburg on Sunday. Rocky's Revival, Here Today and The Byzantines also will perform. View and ORDER more photos.

Pash show at The Loft will test waters for possible all-ages series

Date published: 9/7/2006

By MICHAEL ZITZ

When he was playing locally with the band Divide By Zero, Adam Bray was unhappy about seeing fans turned away from shows in Fredericksburg because they were under 21.

Now he's trying to do something about it, trying to tap into that market, trying to give the kids what they want.

Bray knows there's a big and frustrated audience of high school--and even college--students who aren't old enough to drink alcohol, but desperately want to hear live music.

All-ages shows like the ones at such Washington clubs as the 9:30 Club and Black Cat are rare in the Fredericksburg area.

So Bray, a 27-year-old Stafford High School and Mary Washington College grad, is taking action by promoting what he hopes will be just the first of a series of all-ages shows at The Loft on Sunday.

The lineup will consist of Pash and Here Today, which are from the University of Mary Washington; Rocky's Revival, whose members attend James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg; and The Byzantines, which is made up of students from Stafford and Colonial Forge high schools.

All four bands play indie-type alternative rock.

No alcohol will be served at The Loft Sunday during the show, Bray said.

Fifteen-year-old Luca Terziotti, a James Monroe High sophomore who plays guitar and sings in Rocky's Revival, said, "Most of the people I've talked to are really excited because there aren't any all-ages shows around here except for metal and hardcore.

"It's pretty hard to go to Washington, because most people can't drive."

Bray said he sees a hunger for all-ages events every day in his job at Apple Music.

"We have a hundred kids a week taking guitar lessons, and a lot of them play in bands and want to see live music," he said. "There aren't a lot of opportunities to do that."

If Sunday's show goes well, the all-ages concerts will continue. Bray knows some regional acts from the Washington area that are eager to come to town for all-ages shows. The tentative date for the next one is Oct. 1.

He said he's promoting Sunday's event with a group of area teenagers who want to make this a regular thing and are spreading the word.

"I think it's gonna be a big success because of their hard work," Bray said.

To reach MICHAEL ZITZ: 540/374-5408
Email: mikez@freelancestar.com

WHAT: Pash, Here Today, Rocky's Revival and The Byzantines will play an all-ages show WHERE: The Loft, 1005 Princess Anne St., upstairs at Frederick's, Fredericksburg WHEN: Sunday, 4-7 p.m. COST: $5, all ages INFO: myspace.com/ fredericksburgallages, 540/226-9368

Date published: 9/7/2006