NORWICH – For more than 30 years, Bruce Beadle (Sr.) has been paying his dues on the local stages and entertaining decades of area residents looking for a good time, now he's looking to pay it forward by co-organizing a charitable event that aims to benefit two locally affiliated organizations.
Throughout the years, Beadle has weaved many a Van Morrison cover song into his set list. With his appreciation for the unique styling of the Van Morrison style, Beadle – with the recommendation of his band mates – would eventually form a tribute band, paying homage to the iconic Irish frontman knows as “Van the Man.”
Beadle, along with a golf league acquaintance Mike McCormack have been mulling over ideas for a new type of benefit to help area nonprofits raise funding for programming. The discussions between McCormack and Beadle would ultimately lead to putting two and two together, and the spark of ideas would soon ignite the notions both had kindling in their heads for some time into a blaze of brainstorming and networking.
“We thought that this would be a great way to kick off something that could work to the advantage of multiple organizations as well as local performers, local venues as well as bring a night of fun to the folks of Chenango County,” said Beadle.
The set list of nearly an hour and a half of live music isn't the only thing planed to be on tap for the evening. Those planning on attending what is sure to be an exciting and new entertainment offering for Chenango County can enjoy a cash bar before and during the evening's performances in the lobby area of the Martin Kappel Theater at The Chenango Arts Council, located at 27 West Main St., Norwich.
As for the benefit, Beadle admits that he's always had a soft spot in his heart for the American Cancer Society (ACS) as members of his own family have been affected by the devastating effects of cancer. “I reached out the ACS, but they do not have a local presence here in Chenango County. I was discouraged with the politics that were emerging from dealing with an organization out of the area, and it seemed that they were only interested in how much money we'd be raising for them, So I looked elsewhere,” said Beadle.
This is where the relationship between Beadle and McCormack worked to the advantage of the local community. McCormack pitched the idea of fund raising for Catholic Charities as the philanthropic component to the plan.
Beadle said, “Mike and I were talking and he suggested that Catholic Charities could benefit a great deal because the amount of programs they offer burns through a lot of money. I told Mike that if he thought that Catholic Charities would like to be included in what could be a great fund raiser for them, than I would love to team up with them.”
Catholic Charities is a local agency that provides a number of programs to the community including: Crime Victims, Counseling, Community Outreach and Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services in addition to providing social services for those in need.
Along with Catholic Charities, the planners decided to add the St. Baldricks Foundation, which has been locally promoted for many years, to the lineup of beneficiaries.
Opening for Bruce Beadle & Mystic Moon Dance will be local traditional Irish band “The Ryan Clan.” The Chenango County favorite will kick off its busiest moth of performances at the March 1 event, and are looking forward to the night with anticipation.
The Chenango Has Talent showcase and fundraiser event is scheduled to open its doors at 6 p.m. on March 1, show starts at 7 p.m.
A limited number of tickets are available and selling out quickly. Prices are $20 advance sale, $25 at the door night of show and can be purchased at Chenango Arts Council box office, NBT Bank Norwich, The Blarney Stone Pub, Norwich Fire Dept., Hummel’s, Catholic Charities on O'Hara Drive or by calling Bruce Beadle at 244-5481.