Featured Artist(s) of the Week: Jah Roots / Laura Reed and Deep Pocket

For the first time in the history of this featured artist column, we have a pair of artists being highlighted. Not only are these two acts too good to exclude, but each will be sharing the stage at the the third annual Rock for Hunger Festival coming up in about two weeks. These two featured artists are a few of the most highly anticipated performances of the night.

The first of our featured artists is Jah Roots. Hailing from Springfield, Missouri, this group is as solid as a reggae act gets. Listen to "Spliff n My Lady" and you'll sure to be bobbing your head uncontrollably. Their music is perfect for any relaxing occasion. For example, I am listening to "Good Highs" while I am writing this at my office... and I just caught myself swaying back and forth in my seat to the groove.

Jah Roots

Laura Reed and Deep Pocket has been to Central Florida sparsely. Last time she was here, she played at the Social with RFH alum KG and the Band. The crowd, as well as our staff (and KG himself) simply fell in love with her and her music. Naturally, this has led to her presence on the main stage of the festival on November 15th. Expect to drop to your knees in awe when she performs songs like "Praise You" and "One World." As the band's name suggests, the band is tight, which makes the experience incomparable all around.

Laura Reed and Deep Pocket

See you at the Plaza Theatre on November 15th.
Also, don't forget to vote next week!

- Logan Lenz; Treasurer/ Event Coordinator, Rock For Hunger
"There can no longer be anyone too poor to vote." ~~ Lyndon Baines Johnson

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Skip Dinner to Feed 40 People in Need

So instead of skip lunch Thursday we decided to roll with the skip dinner on Thursday event. Those dinner calories are the ones you will not burn off as easy anyway, so you have a multiple benefit. Come to our “A Night of Music 4 Peace” event at Ten Thousand Villages this Thursday from 7pm-9pm. Instead of spending money on going out to eat, skip dinner this week, and donate $10 to Rock for Hunger to help feed over 40 people and receive a ticket to Rock for Hunger Fest 3, and get appetizers with drinks included. Also, while you are there, you can get some early Christmas shopping done at the AMAZING Ten Thousand Villages store. Enjoy some acoustic vibes by G-Ro & POB, Emily Sessoms, and Leo from Urbe Prima.

Ten Thousand Villages in Winter Park is located at 346 N Park Ave Winter Park, FL 32789. Make sure to bring a business card, and drop it in our bowl for our T-Shirt giveaway for the very famous Rocksophagus T-Shirt.

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the Week in Rock for Hunger

It was an exciting weekend for Rock for Hunger as ticket sales are starting to pick-up for Rock for Hunger Fest 3, and Chris Burns & Kaleigh Baker rocked it at Whole Foods Market in Winter Park, FL. We had a lot of RFH regulars stop by the store which included board of directors Logan Lenz and Greg Rollett, Kris Kahn (Black Ship Sky), Eric (The Fling), and some of our regular volunteers. The event included free wine, cheese, and tofu. Great stuff! Thank you Lisa for helping us organize this event! Check the calendar below for this week in Rock for Hunger for a event at her shop Ten Thousand Villages.

MONDAY – Food Sharing for the Homeless & Needy (Orlando, FL)
Food sharing number 85 and counting! We keep rockin strong! This week we are changing our location to Lake Eola across from Panera Bread on Robinson St. and Eola Dr. As always we will meet at 6:45pm until 8pm. We will meet in the lawn right across from Panera Bread. Bring all your supplies and friends there. We will then gather all our things and move it to the chapel just a few feet further. This location provides lots of seating, privacy.

TUESDAY – Check out the Passafire Interview
Last week Greg and I interviewed Rock for Hunger Fest 3 performing artist Passafire at House of Blues. Check out the interview here.

THURSDAY – Skip Lunch Day to Feed 40 people in need!
Details coming tomorrow on the Rock for Hunger Blog.

THURSDAY – 2nd Annual Night of Music 4 Peace @ Ten Thousand Villages
Join us for our 2nd Annual Night of Music 4 Peace at Ten Thousand Villages in Winter Park, FL located at Park Ave right down the road from Rollins College. This year we will once again have a dynamite performance from G-Ro & POB along with Emily Sessoms, and Leo from Urbe Prima.

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Featured Artist of the Week: Peter Baldwin

This week's featured artist was one of my favorite performers at this year's Florida Music Festival. He made the most of a small crowd at the Social and blew me away with his mellow maturity and engaging vocal melodies. With just him and a guitar, it was hard to believe he made such a huge impression on me; especially considering the amount of performances I witnessed that weekend.

While his impression on me lingered, his popularity level around the local scene heightened. Now just by saying his name, some of you may be aware of Peter Baldwin. If not, you're missing out. If so, I know I don't need to say much more about his talents.

To me, Peter Baldwin falls somewhere between Nick Drake and the tamed-down version of TV on the Radio. The tune "Day That He Die" is a perfect representation of that comparison. The track "Claustrophobic" is the one I remember the most from seeing him live at FMF. You can check out each of these and a few of his other songs on his MySpace page.

Like many other amazing artists, Peter Baldwin will be showcasing his talents at this year's Rock for Hunger Festival on November 15th at the Plaza Theatre. Be sure to pick up your tickets asap. The show is right around the corner.

See you there!

- Logan Lenz; Treasurer/ Event Coordinator, Rock For Hunger
"Peace is the marriage of the people and the planet, with all attendant vows." ~~ Anonymous

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Nonprofit Spotlight: The Harlem Children's Zone

Today I ran across my inspiration for the Rock for Hunger Tutors & Meals Children’s Program. It’s the Harlem Children’s Zone in Harlem, NY. This great organization knows how to grab poverty by its roots and yank it out of people’s lives! They offer programs from pre-K to College, to families, and to expecting mothers. This organization is just amazing. They served over 10,800 of the youth in Harlem. Some of their programs include Beacon Centers, Foster Prevention Programs, and Baby College programs. The Beacon Centers take over the buildings of the schools in Harlem and turn them into community centers in after hours. This community centers offer afternoon, evening, weekend, and summer programs to help keep kids off the streets and in a safe positive environment. The Foster Prevention Program works with parents that may be loosing their children, and helps them prevent having their children end up in the foster system. Then another fascinating program is the Baby College program. This program is designed for expecting parents, and to help assist them to provide the best childhood for their children to help them break the cycle of poverty.


Poverty gets passed along from generation to generation, and it takes extreme measures to break the cycle. A child growing up in poverty has a 90% chance to continue on in that cycle for the rest of their lives, and their children’s lives. When growing up in a less fortunate lifestyle, puts all the odds against you. Parents don’t have the resources, education, or the finances to help prevent this cycle, and unwillingly and unfortunately pass it along to their children. Programs like the Harlem Children’s Zone are absolutely amazing, and should be strongly encouraged in cities across the United States. It’s a shame that in one of the richest countries in the world 1 out of 5 individuals are living in poverty, and 25% of those individuals are our children.

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Featured Artist of the Week: Passafire

Next Wednesday, October 22nd, fans of the band Passafire will be able to preview their live performance at House of Blues in Orlando with Pepper and the Supervillains. Rock for Hunger will be there to interview the band and begin hyping their highly anticipated performance at Rock for Hunger Fest 3 on November 15th.

Simply put, Passafire is a solid reggae band. Signed to the reputable Law Records, Pepper's record label, Passafire is obviously welcomed with open arms into the commercial reggae scene. If you have yet to hear the band, check out their MySpace page. Songs like "Submersible" and "Unfamiliar" are ones not to overlook.

I can't say it enough. You need to attend Rock for Hunger Fest 3. For the next few weeks, it may start to sound like a plea or rant, but it is certainly a show you don't want to miss. You can purchase tickets at all Ticketmaster locations or by clicking here.

To find out more about the festival, visit the event's blog by clicking here.

- Logan Lenz; Treasurer/ Event Coordinator, Rock For Hunger
"Hell is full of musical amateur." ~~ George Bernard Shaw

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the Week in Rock for Hunger

Tonight is the finals of the first annual iRock for Hunger Battle of the Bands at Back Booth on 37 W. Pine St. Orlando, FL 32801 with Finalists Black Ship Sky, Johnny Plastic & the Rubber Band, and Pop Suicide. Stop by to see who is the next band that Rocks for Hunger, and who will be playing on the main stage at Rock for Hunger Fest 3.

Besides that we have many other great events this week in Rock for Hunger:

MONDAY – Food Sharing
It is now week number 83 of our weekly food sharing. It has been amazing to be able to serve those in need for this many weeks in a row now. As always we meet on the corner of Magnolia and Washington in Downtown Orlando at 6:45pm-8:15pm each week. Bring yourself and a friend, or a non-perishable food item.

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY – Create Chaos Job Fair
It is an absolute honor to be part of the Create Chaos Job Fair for young creative professionals. Go to the job fair to find some work in your area of expertise. Check out their site for more info: www.createchaos.com.

THURSDAY – Create Chaos New Renaissance closing Party
Rock for Hunger will be part of the Create Chaos closing party. Be sure to bring wear your toga, or else you are going to have to give a $10 donation towards Rock for Hunger and help support the cause.

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iRock for Hunger Battle of the Bands

This Sunday October 12th, 2008 we would like to welcome you to the inaugural iRock for Hunger Battle of the Bands Finals at Back Booth. Back Booth is located in Downtown Orlando at 37 W. Pine St. Orlando, FL 32801. The winner of the iRock for Hunger Battle of the Bands finals will be performing at Rock for Hunger Fest 3 on Saturday November 15th at The Plaza Theatre along with Kardinal Offishall, Passafire, Jah Roots, Social Ghost, Mirror Pal, Afterglow Radio, Ambertone, Junkie Rush, and many more.

Performing in the iRock for Hunger Battle of the Bands finals will be:
Black Ship Sky
Johnny Plastic & the Rubber band
Pop Suicide

Ticket are $10 at the door. Be sure to bring a canned good to the Battle of the Bands to get $10 off for your Rock for Hunger Fest 3 ticket.

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Featured Artist of the Week: Badda Skat

This week's featured artist hails from St. Petersburg, Florida - a mere stonethrow from Rock for Hunger's home base of Orlando. I had the pleasure of being exposed to Badda Skat at the Central Station Rock Bar; where he has become a mainstay since this summer. My company, Endagon Entertainment, booked him an awful lot at the venue, and nobody ever seemed to get sick of his music.

What I have come to learn recently is that most people adore reggae. I would be the first to admit that I am not a huge fan of reggae, but I do enjoy healthy doses of reggae fused with another style. Badda Skat does just that, and that is what makes him so appealing.

On November 15th, Badda Skat will be gracing the stage at the third annual Rock for Hunger Festival at the Plaza Theatre. For more information on the event, check out: http://www.rockforhungerfest.org/
I look forward to grooving with you next month!

- Logan Lenz; Treasurer/ Event Coordinator, Rock For Hunger
"Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results." ~~ George S. Patton

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Featured Artist of the Week: Broadway

Every once in a while, our home city of Orlando gives birth to new talent that seems to come out of nowhere. First, there was There for Tomorrow, who seemed to have been living the rock star after only a few months of working the streets. The young band, Broadway is a similar story. I feel like I heard about them a few months ago and now all I hear is how amazing and professional they have become. Good for them!... And good for us for having them at Rock for Hunger Fest in November.

You can listen to a few of their tracks on their MySpace page. "The Prom Queen Has No Friends" is my personal favorites. Their new-punk/screamo style reminds me a lot of Underoath circa They're Only Chasing Safety days. That is nothing but the utmost of compliments because I happen to love that album.

Be sure to come and check out Broadway and tons of other amazing talent at this year's "Rock for Hunger Fest 3" on November 15th at the Plaza Theater. Visit the event blog for more info.

- Logan Lenz; Treasurer/ Event Coordinator, Rock For Hunger
"Life is short. Be swift to love! Make haste to be kind!" ~~ Henri Amiel

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