Cate Doucette

58 Newell Lane

Whitefield, NH 03598

(PH) 603.991.9190

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            Meet The Bramble Jam, a local rock band creating music for kids. The Bramble Jam band increasingly delights the north country community by providing fun, interactive, and flavorful family music. The Bethlehem-based band includes five members devoted to the creation and production of original family music.  Their first album, “Move Your Boots,” is now available at www.thebramblejam.com .  Jason Kern, Bramble Jam guitarist and vocalist from Sugar Hill, says, “I would like for families to have something to listen to in the car that won’t drive parents absolutely crazy.” The band chuckles at this comment, but agrees that their music is aimed at family enjoyment.

            This musical project seemed to simply fall into place, as Asa Brebner, producer, guitar player, and singer comments. “Independent of each other we serendipitously all thought, let’s write some children’s music. And that’s how it started, and it blossomed from there. It was meant to be.” Drummer and singer Pam Manning, a mother and musician, also marvels at how the project bloomed. “I’ve been working on kids records for a long time, and for original stuff  [Move Your Boots] is as strong as anything I’ve ever heard.”

The merging of music and lyrics in their project was a true collaboration. Asa often “helped the other writers flesh out what they already had” with the goal of making each song a little different and unique. Asa, a musician working in the Boston area says of this project, “This couldn’t have been a better example of collaboration.” Each of the five members of The Bramble Jam combined their experiences and talents to bring this album into existence. Jessie Griffiths, vocalist and mother of three, agrees, “I loved how it was so collaborative, and that one thing grew off another, and that at each stage was a learning experience.”

            The music attempts to create an interface between childhood, adulthood, and the immediate musical experience. The band succeeds in showing kids that music is real and accessible, not simply a digital reproduction. Pam Manning says, “Music doesn’t come from your headphones, or your computer, or your ipod, it’s human beings. Seeing kids respond to that is magical.” Jay Janney, guitar, bass, and musical engineer agrees. “What I enjoy most is actually watching the children watch us play music...it’s fun. That community involvement is a wonderful thing.”

            Jessie also wants to engage children through music. One of her goals with this project is “Connecting to kids and parents in the local community and giving them something really joyous to look forward to and share together.” This idea of families sharing music is central to the band’s philosophy. The Bramble Jam’s songs appeal to both parents and children through the layered meanings of their song lyrics. Most of the songs came from everyday life with children. Jessie, lyricist of many of the album’s songs, says, “Most of my songs came directly from my life and what was happening immediately.”

            Jason Kern, father of five, agrees with real life being the inspiration for many of the songs. He adds, “I try to remember what it was like to be that age. I watch my kids and try to imagine what they’re experiencing. A lot of times I can see their wheels turning and remember myself in their position.” It is precisely this parent-child interaction that is so well detailed in many of the songs on “Move Your Boots.”

            Jay also loves the playfulness of the songs on the album and the “get on the floor involvement” that they spark within the community. Jason agrees that making the process of music available to children is essential on a private and public level. Of his own family experience, he says, “On a very personal level, a family level, hopefully I am setting an example for my children that if something turns your lights on, go follow it. Go make that happen.” The musical arch that The Bramble Jam has followed is clear in their performances. These are people who love to play music together. It is family music, relatable on many levels, and now available to the community. Go check out their next live performance on November 21st at the Lafayette Elementary School.