If you're looking for some good music this weekend in State College, you may want to look in the direction of 528 W Foster Ave.
The Barny Cat's Music Fest will be held from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. tomorrow as a benefit for the Tonya Browne memorial fund of the Centre County Women's Resource Center.
Tonya Browne, who was a local star of the Queen Bee and the Blue Hornet Band, died last March at the age of 36. A year earlier, she had been diagnosed with diabetes and died of a cause related to the illness. After her death, some friends were inspired to set up a memorial fund in her name.
Queen Bee and the Blue Hornet Band often played blues and was a favorite performer of many in the State College area, frequently drawing crowds at Cafe 210, 210 W College Ave., as well as the Phyrst, 111 E. Beaver Ave.
Dealin the Blues and Harder Than a Freight Train are two albums the group released in the early '90s.
The festival will feature five bands including Original Soul Project, Kris Kehr & Stone Poets, Big Daddy Blues Revival and Dusk Till Dawn. Among the solo acts are Kelly Countermine and Josh Dorsey.
Combining all of the entertainment, listeners will get an earful of different rhythms and sounds. From funky soul to alternative country and blues, as well as country/western, the event may spice up the music scene around State College.
"Many people are often complaining that the music scene in State College sucks or that it is just not too great," said Jana Byars, one of the coordinators of the festival.
She also said the event would provide people with a chance to see that State College has a lot of great music and a lot of great local talent as well.
"It also gives those under 21 a place to go and enjoy good music and fun times," Byars said.
The cost of the event is $15 per person. The price covers the entertainment, a pig roast, picnic-side dishes, vegetarian food choices and assorted beverages.
All proceeds benefit Tonya's Memorial Fund, set up at the Women's Center because her volunteer work was so important there.
"Tonya was a hard working volunteer at the Women's Resource Center in State College," said Dawn McKee, the education and outreach coordinator at the Women's Resource Center.
"After Tonya died, her friends realized how important and how meaningful her work was at the center, so they decided to set up the fund in her honor," McKee added.
Mark Ross, who played with Browne for 15 years and encouraged the proceeds to go toward the memorial fund, said the event would "number one, be for a great cause; and number two, feature great bands."
Tickets for the festival may be purchased at Alley Cat Music, 122 N. Atherton St., Zeno's, 100 W College Ave., and Webster's Bookstore, 128 S. Allen St. Contact Jana Byars at 861-2153 with questions.
