Local Musicians Raise Money for Molto Bene

Local musicians to help raise money for Molto Bene’s rebuilding efforts. 

The fundraiser will feature live music from The Second Time Around (Caila and Natalie), Talinday, Connor and Miranda, Eitan and Jacqueline, 100% Cotton and Antwan. 

"There are no words to express how thankful we are to our community," said co-owner Val Adamo in an email. "The assistance we received from the different groups of people is what kept us going forward."

Event organizer Debbie Cabrera said the owners of Molto Bene opened their doors to local musicians.

“They were really good to the community and allowed non-professional musicians to get their feet wet by employing them to play in front of an audience of friends and locals,” Cabrera said.

Hightstown High School students Caila Cabrera, a junior, and Natalie Ortega, a senior, formed the band The Second Time Around as a direct result of Molto Bene’s welcoming atmosphere.  Both Cabrera and Ortega play acoustic guitar and sing.

“They were so good to us at Molto Bene,” Caila Cabrera said. “Even if we messed up on a few songs or didn’t have enough material, we always felt comfortable.”

Ortega said they mainly play Top 40 cover songs, such as The Beatles.

“We like whatever sounds good acoustically,” Ortega said.

Debbie Cabrera said she believes this is the first fundraiser for Molto Bene, but community support was immediate after Hurricane Irene hit.

“After the disaster, a number of local volunteers helped the cleanup effort, getting all of the wreckage out of the building,” she said. 

after Hurricane Irene destroyed the restaurant. Following the storm, the Adamos received a loan from the Small Business Administration to help start recovery efforts.

will be held at the from 8 to 11 p.m. Open mic starts at 10 p.m. and audience members will vote for their favorite act. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. Refreshments will be served.