BarryFest, a special celebration, took place on July 14, 2013, on the patio of Shea's American Bar & Grill in Manchester, CT.  This was to celebrate the life of Manchester Native, Barry Grant, who was instrumental in supporting area bands.  The public knew Grant for his various radio programs, most famously WPLR & WDRC Grants Tomb where he was also Program Director. Barry also was the voice of the New York Islanders for 26 years.  Area musicians knew him as their best friend and most avid supporter. If he wasn't playing their records on his programs he was listening to them in clubs on weekends.  Grant died in October 2012 so eight of his favorite bands got together to perform a tribute to him, non stop, lasting over 8 hours in close to 100 degree heat.

The Featured Bands were:  Little Village, Sweet Tarts, Mambo Sons, Village Maid, Brian, Rex & Elise, Avenue Groove, The New Remains, Cover2Cover.

Grant won many awards including Billboard Magazine's Personality of the Year Award which he won many times at multiple stations, some of which, due to Grant, won Billboard Magazine's Station of the Year Award.  BarryFest  was planned as a musical celebration to give Grant the respect he unselfishly gave to musicians.  About 300 of Grant's closest friends attended and donated in his name.

 The $2,000 raised from this event, and some musical instruments collected, went to Horns For Kids, a non-profit organization that donates musical instruments to deserving schools in CT for kids to have the opportunity to follow their dreams in music.

 BarryFest Two is planned for September, 2014.