Kinderhook Comes Home To Point Pleasant For Scholarship Fundraiser

(Kinderhook got its start at the Jersey Shore more than 30 years ago and the country rock band reunites for select events, including this summer’s Rock for the Nurses fundraiser, which marks the band’s return to Point Pleasant. Photo courtesy Walt Konopka, chairman, Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund)

When the Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund holds its fifth-annual fundraiser in late May, it also will be a homecoming for a local band.

Country rockers Kinderhook -- formerly Kinderhook Creek -- are returning to Point Pleasant for the first time in more than 30 years to perform at the “Rock for the Nurses” fundraiser at the Idle Hour restaurant and bar on Saturday, May 30.

The six-hour fundraiser, which begins at 1 p.m., also will feature performances by The Mangos, Timepiece, Ned Ryerson and his new band The Groundhogs, plus other special guests. There will be an all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet, pig roast, outside tent party, cash bar, coffee, soft drinks, dessert, games, prizes, give-a-ways and much more for the entire family.

Tickets are $20 per person -- kids 12 and under get in free -- and can be purchased in advance at the Idle Hour, 2600 Route 88, Point Pleasant, or online at www.eventbrite.com.

Tickets will also be available for purchase the day of the event at the door.

All proceeds from the event will benefit The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund, which annually helps the nurses and nursing students of Ocean Medical Center by providing nursing scholarships to nurses and nursing students looking to further their formal education in the nursing profession.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Kinderhook will be performing at our five-year anniversary party this year,” said Walt Konopka, chairperson of The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund and brother of the late Barbara Forfar.

Kinderhook (formerly known as Kinderhook Creek) was one of the first country-rock bands in New Jersey to play the club circuit. They performed up and down the east coast and also in Nashville. The band was active from 1973 to 1982, playing a regular circuit of clubs including The Wooden Nickel, Widow Brown’s, The Gypsy, The Final Exam, Dodds Crest, Dodds Orange, Creations, The Beach House (Point Pleasant Beach), The Stone Pony, The Royal Manor (Wall Township), Baby-O’s, and The Joint In-The-Woods.

Kinderhook also opened for The Flying Burrito Brothers, Conway Twitty, Pure Prairie League, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Outlaws, Richie Havens, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Commander Cody, Seals & Crofts and David Bromberg. At a career high point, Kinderhook opened for Poco in Central Park in NYC at the Schaefer Music Festival in front of 25,000 people.

The band briefly re-united for a charity event in 1999 and in 2010 was asked to once again open for the New Riders. The enthusiastic responses to their appearances helped cement Kinderhook’s decision to continue to perform at selected events in the future.

Today the lineup includes original members Jerry Kopychuk, guitar and banjo; Andy Fediw, bass guitar; Craig Barry, drums; and John Korba on keyboards and guitar. In 2011 Kinderhook added longtime Cowtown member Jimmy Ryan on pedal steel and guitar and in 2013, the band added Jim Messina’s violinist and guitarist Gary Oleyar.

The Mangos, who have been performing at the Jersey Shore for more than 25 years, formed on the heels of the legendary Southern Cross Band. They are led by singer-songwriter-musician Joe Prewitt, who has performed with countless major recording artists including Greg Allman, The Band, Charlie Daniels and Dolly Parton just to name few.

Timepiece, who appeared at Rock for the Nurses in 2013, has been rocking the Jersey Shore for more than 20 years. Founded in 1990 by Terry Wildeman (lead guitar and vocals), who grew up in the shadows of Asbury Park and now lives in the Wall area, and Fred DeFeo (drums and vocals) of Island Heights, the band also includes Frank Pagano (bass guitar and vocals) and Mike Scialfa (keyboards). Scialfa is the brother of Bruce Springsteen’s wife, Patty Scialfa.

Ned Ryerson returns to Rock for the Nurses for a fourth year in a row with his new band The Groundhogs, a full six-piece cover band based out of Toms River. Coming from a wide range of musical backgrounds, Ryan Tierney (bass), Matt Cicalese (drums), Brian Lloyd (keys), Bryan Murray (guitar), Ned Ryerson (guitar/vocals) and John Hoffman (ukulele/vocals) came together to form one of the most unique bands this area has to offer.

For more information about The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund and the fifth-anniversary Rock for the Nurses celebration, visit www.forfarscholarship.org or connect with The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund on Facebook or Twitter.