Bern & the Brights formed in 2008 and by the year’s end rose to be a top local band, earning the NYC Emerging Artist of December 2008 at www.thedelimagazine.com and highlighted among the top 50 NYC Emerging Artists of 2008 among other indie artists including: Chairlift, The Vivian Girls, and April Smith and the Great Picture Show. In early 2009 the band was featured on the Local Licks segment of 101.9 RXP’s The Rock Show with Matt Pinfield and Leslie Framm. They also won a songwriting contest (Songwriting Session with Butch Walker) through 101.9RXP and, soon after, opened for Butch Walker at Webster Hall.

In a year and a half, the band has performed 120 shows in the tri-state area, and New England, at some major venues including: The Stone Pony (with Nicole Atkins and Mike Doughty [of Soul Coughing]) Maxwell’s, Mexicali Live (with Rhett Miller,) Southpaw, Public Assembly, Spike Hill, and Webster Hall (with Butch Walker [as mentioned above].)

The band is known for their evocative and energetic live show. With radiant chemistry and strong musicianship, they create an infectious, positive emotionality that takes over and transforms any room. Their fan base, playfully referred to as The Light Brigade, is ever growing, and spans a broad range of people, who connect with the band’s organic and romantic sound.

Bern & the Brights is:
Bernadette Malavarca – lead guitar/vocals/percussion
Catherine McGowan – acoustic guitar/vocals
Nicole Scorsone – violin
Shawn Fafara – bass
Jose Ulloa – drums

Songwriters Malavarca and McGowan front the band. For more on Bern & the Brights, check out their blog at www.bernandthebrightsblog.com