Cove Reunion to give back to Guild for seventh year in a row

BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK & ANNA SPIVAK

Rockin’ the bar for a good cause.

For the seventh year in a row, the Cove Reunion—a lineup of seven bands that once packed out Brooklyn hot spot the Cove—will rock the Ridge’s Salty Dog with their annual concert that benefits The Guild for Exceptional Children (GEC).

“I think one of the cool things about this show is that [it’s] pretty much the original lineup that we formed in 1979 and debuted at the Third Avenue Festival,” said Mike Riddle of former band City Kids, “and [everything] is 100 percent benefiting the guild.”

Since its inception, the event has only grown in size and in power. The fundraiser, once a suggested donation, now brings in at least $20 per person with ticketed entry for high-quality entertainment, food and raffles. Years later, the guys behind it are still happy to see the results go to a good cause.

“The GEC, which is really based here in Bay Ridge—since this [concert] was kind of all about Bay Ridge groups—it just seemed logical, why not give the money to them?” noted Riddle. “We’ve been able to raise more money and we’ve got something that’s working here. Everybody’s having a good time doing it plus you’ve got a lot of people that come to the event and donate their time—you get a lot of people just saying, ‘what can I do?’”

Riddle attributes the reunion’s growth to that community spirit.

“I’ve always said one of the great things about Bay Ridge, even though we’re in Brooklyn, Bay Ridge is a little enclave,” said Riddle. “It’s a little thing set all into itself [where] you have this sense of a lot of community.”

This year’s lineup includes Whippoorwill, Al Lama (with Diana Lisa and Rich Rizzuto), Piranha Bros, The Lynch Boys, City Kids with Jack Whitman, Final Raffles and Workin’ Class and will include raffles and auctions.

The reunion will take place on Saturday, October 10 from 3 to 11 p.m. at the Salty Dog (7509 Third Avenue).