Calling ALL Guitar Players!

The Board of Directors for the non-profit organization, Friends of Somerset County Youth, were looking for a new and unique fund raising experience that would appeal to many different people of all age levels throughout Somerset County. We think we found it.

The “Somerville Street Strum” will be held on Saturday, August 6 from 2 pm to 6 pm on the beautiful downtown Division Street Plaza. Our goal is to bring together over 500 guitar players (guitars, ukuleles, and mandolins too) to all play the same song, Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, all at the same time. We're hoping to establish a record for New Jersey.

Many people have learned or tried to learn to play the guitar. Some are accomplished and play before audiences in stadiums, concert halls, bars, coffee houses or other small venues. Others just play for their own personal enjoyment. This common thread is a perfect opportunity to bring the community together and share talent while strengthening relations in the community, and even do some fund raising for a very reputable and worthy charitable organizations like the Children's Hope Initiative and other organizations supported by the Friends of Somerset County Youth, Inc.

“So many people have owned a guitar as a teenager with hopes of being able to enjoy the ability to play for anyone who would listen,” says event organizer and board member Tony Winchatz. “Then, as so often happens, life ‘gets in the way’ and we have so many other things to do as grownups. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying, when I got married I had too many things to do to continue playing the guitar as often as I would like. As it turns out, I put mine in a case in the basement until, 35 years later, I brought it out to show to a friend. That’s all it took to get started all over again. Make no mistake, I’m not a very good guitar player. I know perhaps 10 or so chords, but to me it sounds like a rock concert when I play for myself.”

“I met some folks at both Mannion’s Irish Pub and the Dragonfly Music and Coffee Café, both in Somerville, who get together weekly to share their passion for playing music,” Mr. Winchatz continues. “That inspired me to try to organize an opportunity to bring the whole community together with sharing and playing music they enjoy. This is a unique experience for downtown Somerville and we are hoping to have enough players to establish a New Jersey record.”

And so, let's bring people together with their guitars to play together, as many as possible, and establish or set a record for the number of guitars playing a single song in a guitar ensemble in New Jersey.

One question that’s been asked many times, “What if you don't play guitar?” That's okay, we welcome everyone to join us. Perhaps you can be a percussionist (you know, tambourine, cow bell, rhythm sticks, even a plastic bucket that becomes a drum. Bring your own!) Maybe you'd like to be a vocalist and sing along. And never underestimate your ability to play "air guitar!"

The action begins at 2 pm with registration check-ins while being entertained by The Hoovers, a classic rock band from Hillsborough. Also entertaining from the main stage will be students from Somerville’s School of Rock. Everyone is encouraged to “audition” and perhaps have their own “rock star moment” playing before the audience. The folks from NJ 101.5 FM radio will emcee the program. They will also offer games, contests and prizes throughout the program.

The Guitar Center, located on the Somerville Circle has donated a Yamaha FG-700 acoustic guitar that will be raffled off during the event. Tickets can be purchases anytime during the event.

For more information and to register on line, visit our website, www.friendsofsomersetcountyyouth.org. A Schedule of the day’s activities as well as downloadable chord and lyrics charts for songs that everyone can play together can be found there. Registration is ten dollars which will be used to support various programs in Somerset County that are aimed at helping young people become strong citizens.

Friends of Somerset County Youth is a non-profit corporation organized exclusively for charitable purposes, and specifically to benefit the youth of Somerset County.

The organization supports the efforts of local community volunteers to offer prevention programs and activities. The objective of Friends is to help identify risk factors that lead to juvenile delinquency, advocate for the needs of youth, and provide a variety of educational opportunities for professionals who serve children and families and for parents.