Local bands to perform for education

Published 10:03 am Friday, May 1, 2009

Two local bands will be performing at a fundraising concert to benefit the Austin Public Education Foundation (APEF) Saturday, May 16.

The Seeds, including member and Banfield fourth grade teacher Jamie Braaten, and Plan B, with guitarist and Austin High School teacher Ed Ehrhardt, are donating their talents for APEF, which awards grants to teachers to pursue projects they usually can’t because of budget constraints.

“I think the public needs to know we have teachers who do other things,” said Dewey Schara, assistant principal at Ellis Middle School.

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Braaten — whose band also includes Riverland Community College instructor Todd Moran, Dan Schroeder of Owatonna and Cody Yost of Albert Lea — said it was “natural” for The Seeds to participate in the event.

“We as teachers in general try to help out kids in any way we can,” Braaten said. “When Dewey asked me to play a benefit for it … of course, yeah.”

The Seeds, who have been performing around the Austin area for about 20 years, have released two original CDs and play 1990s and newer “party rock.”

Plan B, also of Austin, is a blues/rock band headed by Sena Ehrhardt on vocals; Ed Ehrhardt on guitar; Joe Runtsch on guitar on vocals; Scott Anderson on bass and vocals; and Matt Gosha on drums. The APEF Benefit will be held from 6:30-10:30 p.m. May 16 at the Eagles Club in Austin. Tickets are $20 at the door.