Singer Kristyn Woldow with Beau Dure and another guitarist.
A group of Fairfax County teachers with musical talents dabbled on the stage for the first part of this year but things got serious on Dec. 7. They took a step up, playing a benefit show at Jammin’ Java in Vienna.
The Jammin' Java benefit show was for Educate Fairfax. The bands found their groove, hammering out cover songs to an appreciative audience. On stage were “The Randos” band out of Vienna, and the “Aftermath” band, from Fairfax.
The Randos are a four-member band that play cover tunes from the 1980s and 1990s at locations such as Solace Brewing Company and Clare and Don's Beach Shack in Falls Church, and The Celtic House Irish Pub in Arlington. Some of their bigger hits are songs from REM, the Talking Heads, The Cure and Van Morrison. Last May, they played an REM tribute at Jammin’ Java with a few other bands.
They mixed things up with Dan Blanchet on vocals for some of the show, as the two bands entertained a crowd consisting of parents and students. Blanchet is the head of the social studies department at Madison High School in Vienna while singer Kristyn Woldow is a music teacher at a school in Arlington. Beau Dure, who plays bass, drums and guitar, is also a substitute teacher in the area, mainly at Madison.
They all met a few years ago at the School of Rock Adult Performance Program in Vienna, and it took off from there.
At the end of the night at Jammin’ Java, they raised about $1,000 for Educate Fairfax, which is a 501 (c)3 non-profit. Educate Fairfax fills in the gaps in education funding, identifying challenges like food insecurity and innovative learning opportunities. "Supply's for Success," and "Food for All," are two ongoing programs they fund.
See https://www.educatefairfax.org/ for more and to donate.
Beau Dure plays a few instruments.