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Rock Hunger Expands with New Bands and Free Summer Concert Series
Rock Hunger VIII, a concert to benefit Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB), returns to the Old Canal Inn, 2 East Passaic Ave. in Nutley, on Saturday, June 7 at 2 pm. This year’s event will feature new performers, kick off a new summer concert series, and offer new opportunities for sponsors.
All proceeds from Rock Hunger VIII will support the NFSB Food Pantry, which served more than 300 households and nearly 700 people in February of 2025. Tickets were just $25 at the first Rock Hunger concert and they’re still $25 today. In case you were wondering what your ticket purchase means for the Food Pantry and the people we serve:
- $25 covers the cost of groceries for a parent and small child for one week.
- $25 covers the cost of groceries for a client at Nutley Senior Manor for two weeks.
- $25 covers the cost of emergency groceries for a family of four for two days.
The Old Canal Inn has generously donated their facility for every Rock Hunger concert, and all bands have graciously agreed to perform for free.
The Lineup
The Porch Rockers return as the headliners for Rock Hunger VIII, along with local favorite The Sticky Wickets. We’re also excited to welcome Project Blue Book and The Anna Felice Band to Rock Hunger.
The Porch Rockers, with frontman and NFSB Board of Trustees President Dave Popkin, bring a fun mix of classic punk and new wave covers to Rock Hunger VIII as they celebrate the band’s fifth anniversary.
“The Porch Rockers have played a lot in the past year and we’re feeling good,” said Dave, who came up with the Rock Hunger concept and has trademarked the name and logo. “This year, we’ll be playing in memory of Danielle Fry, my good friend of 20 years and the graphic designer who created the original Rock Hunger logo that we still use today. Danielle recently passed away unexpectedly. She was always an enthusiastic supporter of Rock Hunger and we’ll be thinking of her during the event.”
The Sticky Wickets, formed in 1980 by Nutley High School students, including current principal Denis Williams on drums, will once again bring classic hits and a huge local following to Rock Hunger.
New to Rock Hunger in 2025 is The Project Blue Band, a five-piece band that plays everything from classic rock and contemporary music to R&B and rockin’ blues.
Also making their Rock Hunger debut will be The Anna Felice Band. Anna is a classically trained lead vocalist who performs songs from today all the way back to the 50s, as well as original music. When she’s not performing, she volunteers at the NFSB Thrift Shop!
The New Summer Concert Series
NFSB is proud to announce a new Rock Hunger Summer Concert Series, with five free shows featuring great local bands, following the main event on June 7! Concerts will be held at 169 Chestnut Street between NFSB and the Nutley Masonic Lodge.
“The schedule and bands are still being finalized, but we look forward to bringing the community together to enjoy live music with local talent,” Dave said. “As a bonus to our sponsors, they’ll receive exposure during each concert and in social media posts and eblasts, all summer, at no additional cost. This is a great opportunity for a local business to associate with NFSB, support our programs, and build closer connections with local residents.”
The confirmed concert schedule is as follows:
- Porch Rockers – June 25th
- Ana Felice – July 9th
- Mother Hubbard – August 13th
- DJ Rob/Taylor Swift Tribute – August 20th
- TBD – July 23rd
How You Can Help
First and foremost, buy tickets for just $25 and have a great time with your friends and neighbors! Then come back for our free summer concerts!
No NFSB event would be possible without volunteers, and Rock Hunger VIII is no exception. From teenage students to seniors, all help is welcome. Keep in mind that youth volunteer hours will be considered when NFSB scholarships are awarded to Nutley High School students!
A new sponsorship level has been introduced – the $5,000 Springsteen Sponsorship, which includes 10 tickets to Rock Hunger VIII, premier banner signage, and acknowledgement on all other event signage, social media posts, eblasts, and a swag bag, as well as access to all five Rock Hunger summer concerts. Additional sponsorship opportunities start as low as $300!
Continuing a Tradition that Sparked Positive Change in the Nutley Community
Dave takes great pride in the fact that NFSB always receives overwhelmingly positive feedback about our events. That’s no accident.
“Rock Hunger marked a change in direction for community-based events at Nutley Family Service Bureau,” Dave said. “Our first priority was to bring people from all walks of life together in a fun atmosphere and build awareness for the organization. It was just as important to ‘friendraise’ as it was to fundraise. Now that we have four signature events that raise significant funds – Rock Hunger, Casino Night, the Garden Party, and the Harvesting Hope Gala – they’ve taken on a new level of importance. This new wave of events started with Rock Hunger.”
Last year’s Rock Hunger concert raised a net of $18,000 for The Food Pantry, and we hope to surpass that number this year!
“It’s unthinkable that we have a hunger problem in this country,” Dave said. “I’ve been honored to do what I can through the Food Pantry to help people deal with stress, health issues, and financial concerns by simply making sure they have food to eat. When I walked into Nutley Family Service Bureau to drop off a food donation almost 10 years ago, I didn’t expect to have an impromptu conversation with the executive director that would spark my idea for Rock Hunger. Now I’m excited to take this concept to the next level.”
To purchase tickets for Rock Hunger VIII on June 7 at 2 pm at the Old Canal Inn, sign up to volunteer, learn about sponsorship opportunities, or donate, visit the Rock Hunger page on the NFSB website!
