Help Somerville School Of Rock Hit The Road In July

SOMERVILLE, NJ — When you were a teenager, did you want to be a rock star, touring live venues and performing to screaming fans? This July, the 17 students in the House Band of the Somerville School of Rock will get that chance.

They are planning a live tour of multiple venues across four states, the highlight of which is a performance at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on July 9.

The tour will include gigs in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Arlington, VA/DC and Delaware, and will conclude back on the House Band’s "home turf," performing the outdoor stage on Division Street in Somerville.

The House Band is comprised of high school and middle school students primarily from Somerset County, including several students from Bridgewater. Their talents cover vocals to lead guitar, bass to drums, and keys to saxophone. Their repertoire would impress any rock afficionado, spanning classic rock, funk, grunge, hard rock and metal.

They perform throughout New Jersey, including numerous gigs in Somerville, and the NJ Festival of Ballooning opening for acts such as Barenaked Ladies, Todd Rundgren and Fitz and the Tantrums. This coming June, they will perform at Starland Ballroom.

But the opportunity to travel across the northeast and perform together for a week is an experience like no other. However, the tour comes with a hefty price tag and the students need the help of the community to help them rock out.

A GoFundme fundraising website was launched by the House Band’s parent association to help raise $30,000 to cover bus transportation, lodging, and other touring expenses.

Along with donations, the band is looking for business sponsors for the tour, for which the sponsor will receive advertisement on tour T-shirts, the Sponsorship Advertising Banner to be displayed at all shows, and on the House Band’s social media posts during the tour.

To donate to the GoFundMe visit gofund.me/6d8fe6ea. For more information on donations or sponsorship, contact Maha Kabbash at maha.kabbash@gmail.com.

— By Maha Kabbash