Fore ‘N’ Aft Benefit Concert at the Ives Concert Park in Danbury

Sapphire to perform at the gala Fore ‘N’ Aft benefit concert at the Ives Concert Park in Danbury in CT on Saturday, September 28 at 4:00pm.

Last year's event was such an incredible success that it's coming back with different bands and family fun! The Fore 'n' Aft in Brewster, White Plains, New Rochelle, and Westport, CT were the original rock establishments beloved by club-goers in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. It was the place to be, and had the best musicians and bands of the rock world from Connecticut to New Jersey.
Sapphire is joining an amazing line-up of bands including The Billion Dollar Babies (founding members of The Alice Cooper Band), The Good Rats, and more at this year’s gala concert. The complete artist line-up can be seen on the website. Plus there are special guests, surprise appearances, food trucks and much more.

Jimi Heslin one of the founding members of Sapphire, who played all through the 70's and 80's, is reuniting Ed Burns, Nick Manolakes, and Joe Edleman to recreate the sound and memories from the Fore 'n' Aft Night club. Jimi has never left the music scene. He now performs with the "“U Fat Bast*#d" in upstate New York. Jimi is also a partner in the Babicz Guitar Company and the owner of The AxeShop, a vintage guitar store in Wappinger Falls, NY. Ed Burns has continued playing non-stop with a number of bands since then, and currently is the driving force behind Connecticut favorites "The Mix." Nick Manolakes was the rhythm guitarist with Sapphire during the 70's and 80's, and with Sapphire for all the reunion dates. Today, Joe Edleman plays with Ed Burns, Kenny Burns, Jorge Vasco Dias Formigal, Ed Adams and Bob Conroy in the band “ The Mix.”

How did this festival come about? In March of last year, New Fairfield resident Mike Policastro posted a note on a Facebook page asking, “Would anybody be interested in doing a reunion for the Fore ‘n’ Aft?" Julie Shaker, of Danbury, a recent retiree, contacted Policastro and within two weeks the pair had taken the initiative to set a date, secured a venue and got the ball rolling. They had never met before, but within days, they were approached by nearly a dozen bands offering to play, while stage and tech pros volunteered their services and several charities were designated to benefit from the proceeds.

With Ives Concert Park in Danbury chosen and a date set, Policastro and Shaker enlisted Charles F. Rosenay, who had promoted the very successful and highly-acclaimed “Danbury Fields Forever" music festival.

The Fore ‘n’ Aft Benefit Reunion Concert/Festival is an entertainment extravaganza that, for one day only, reunites the bands and fans from the unforgettable years which helped pave the foundation for rock music and events in the region - that are still talked about to this day! It all takes place on Saturday, September 28, 2019, from 1pm to 10pm at Ives Concert Park in Danbury, CT. There is free parking. Open to the general public, this highly-anticipated festival features live concerts, special guests, surprise appearances, food trucks, vendors and much more.

For further information on this historic event, visit https://www.facebook.com/forenaftconcert/.
Info: (203) 770-9336. Website www.ForeNAft.org.
Tickets: https://fore-n-aft.ticketleap.com/2019/