AnnaBananza a tribute with purpose

Cotati resident Anna Bachman was 25 when she died after a tragic fall from a seaside cliff while visiting her sister Gail in San Diego. She stepped too close to the cliff on Jan. 12, 2014, while posing for a photo.

Her mother and stepfather, Marsha and Andy Kopral, also of Cotati, joined with Gail last summer to host a music festival they called AnnaBananza, describing it as a way to channel some of their grief while creating something positive.

“It was a way to get people together. We were in a lot of pain and sad, but Anna’s life was not about that,” said Andy Kopral, 61.

“The idea came from some of Anna’s friends,” added Marsha Kopral, 62. “They always called her Anna Banana.”

Between 350 and 400 people attended, contributing $11,180 to local charities.

The AnnaBananza Music Festival returned to Cotati’s La Plaza Park on Aug. 16, raising money for the NOAH food pantry and Petaluma’s Committee on the Shelterless while celebrating Bachman’s life in a way she would appreciate, with music.

Last year, close high school friends Stefanie Richardson, Katie Llopis and Rebecca Gaut discussed other approaches that included a dine-and-donate fundraiser and a 5K run for one of Anna’s favorite causes. Because Bachman and her family liked attending music festivals such as Outside Lands and Bottlerock, they settled on AnnaBananza.

Throwing a festival isn’t as easy at it sounds. Music was supplied by friends and family members, using a sound system that was held together by duct tape, and five minutes before the first act was set to begin, the soundboard went down completely. Everything worked out in the end, with $10,000 going to Habitat for Humanity for a house in Anna’s name and $1,800 to Rohnert Park’s Neighbors Organized Against Hunger, which provides food to those in need, but “This year we had more time to plan and are doing things better,” Andy Kopral said.

They hired Two-Headed Monster Productions, a professional sound company with local experience and, with the help of Bachman’s friends, lined up roots rock band Moonalice as the headline act.

Also on the bill was Gigasaurus Rex, the second rendition of the band Andy Kopral formed for the original AnnaBanaza.

“I started playing guitar a couple of years before she died,” he said. “We formed a band just to play at the festival that year and decided to keep it going.”

Bachman’s brothers-in-law Nick and Lorin formed a four-piece band called Dorothy Lane that, along with The Hangar Band, rounds out the musical lineup.

“We did hear some criticism last year about going more local with charities, and we listened,” said Andy, who is treasurer and former CFO of Amy’s Kitchen. “Amy’s Kitchen works with COTS and we are impressed with the high success rate they have, so it is something Anna would like.

“Something that is very important to us is that every penny that is given to us by sponsors or tickets is a donation given to COTS or NOAH,” Andy said. “We personally paid for insurance and the sound company and we aren’t looking to be reimbursed, so the $5 that purchases “tickets” for donated food and drink go to the people who need it.”

Marsha and Andy Kopral say they were overwhelmed by the number of sponsors who offered food, wine and beer, businesses that include Kendall Jackson Winery, Lagunitas Brewery and Amy’s Kitchen.

“It shows how much people loved Anna,” said Marsha. “It’s because of all the goodwill that she put out in the world that we can do this. It’s a great feeling when the community comes together like that. You almost take it for granted that they will be there until something happens, and then you feel that support. Now I want to help others.”