As many as 20 bands will perform at the live music show “Shelter Slam,” scheduled for Saturday, March 28. Starting at noon at the Choconut Inn located at 10 Quaker Lake Rd. in Friendsville, Pa., admission is $10 per person, or an equal amount of pet food. Shelter Slam proceeds benefit area animal shelters and rescues. Pictured is event organizer John DeLola (center) and others posing at the Binghamton Humane Society with Runt, who is up for adoption. (Provided photos)
Shelter Slam is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, at the Choconut Inn located at 10 Quaker Lake Rd. in Friendsville, Pa. The event starts at noon and admission is $10 per person, or an equal amount of pet food. Pictured is event organizer John DeLola (center) holding a parrot from Jimmy J’s Avian Rescue of Binghamton, N.Y. Shelter Slam proceeds benefit area animal shelters and rescues.
The popular music event, “Shelter Slam”, is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, and will be held at the Choconut Inn located at 10 Quaker Lake Rd. in Friendsville, Pa. A semi-annual event that helps animal rescues and shelters within the Southern Tier of N.Y. and Northeastern Pa., the live show starts at noon and will showcase 20 bands until closing time, approximately 1 a.m.
Owego, N.Y. native and business owner John DeLola, of Lawn Care with Flair, combined his concert promotion experience with his love for animals, and organized the first Shelter Slam benefit in 2010. Now starting its fifth year, the fundraising show is made possible with the help of many generous individuals, local businesses and musicians. Proceeds benefit local animal shelters and rescues, helping animals live better lives and find forever homes.
Admission to Shelter Slam is $10 per person, or an equal amount of pet food.
With live music planned for two stage areas, Slam-goers can expect an excellent mix from metal to punk, all forms of rock, and a little country. As of this writing, bands and musicians set to perform are the Tim Ruffo Band, Recycled Zombies, Wreckless Marci, The Gunpoets, Citizen 5, Kick Start, Rize, The Kiil, Bobby G and Timeless, Bendher, Sweet Potato 4, Never Enough, Take Away the Ugly, Raibred, B.O.A., Rybacki, O.C.D., Tautersauce, Lithium Highway and Borderline.
Many of the shelters and rescues will have representatives hosting tables including Happy Tails Animal Rescue-Owego, Binghamton Humane Society, Pibbles and More Animal Rescue, All Miniature Pinscher Service, Inc. (AMPS), Internet Miniature Pinscher Service (IMPS), Jimmy J’s Avian Rescue Center, Lost Pawz Animal Rescue and Speak. A list of all animal shelters and rescues that Shelter Slam has helped are listed on the shelterslam.com website.
Not only do guests enjoy the incredible music, but also a major draw of Shelter Slam is the raffles. Tickets are $3 each or five for $10. Prizes up for grabs include $500 cash and $200 cash, and a signed guitar by country music superstar Trace Adkins. Gift baskets, gift cards, a drum set, and many more surprises are in store. Raffle tickets are available at the animal shelters and rescues prior to the event, or with representatives at the tables. Drawings will be held at 8 p.m. at the event. Ticket holders need not be present to win.
Volunteers representing Jimmy J’s Avian Rescue Center of Binghamton, N.Y. will be attending Shelter Slam on March 28. Jimmy J’s mission is to educate the community about parrots, including responsible pet ownership, and to provide sanctuary and placement for parrots in need. Parrots have an incredible life span of 80-100 years.
Shared comments from Jimmy J’s owners April Miller-Pangburn and Jennifer Whitcomb-Jones include, “There are not enough words to express the gratitude we have to the organizers and bands playing at Shelter Slam. As a non-profit, we cannot do what we do without public support. Our food budget alone is $6,000 annually. Thank you to the ‘Heavy Metal Angels’!”
For more information about the Shelter Slam event, visit shelterslam.com or find Shelter Slam on Facebook.
