Stoffa explains that when he and Sollami conceived of the event, they needed sponsors. Bruce Klien of Anytime Fitness in Cornwall was happy to help in whatever way he could.

Next, they found a venue in the form of The Castle in Chester. Imperial Guitar of Newburgh also donated amplifiers and speaker cabinets for the event.

Hudson Valley radio stations have been helpful in getting the word out. WRRV has been promoting the concert for several days now, and K104 will be there with a street team.

Stoffa emphasizes the event has been designed to include several genres of music in order to offer something to everyone.

Bands and artists performing at the event include local favorites Nuts in a Blender & The Great Blendini’s, The Chris Dukes Band, City at Dawn, and Amanda Penecale. These acts will treat the concert’s audience to a wide variety of music styles, including punk rock, country pop, folk songwriting, and fun covers of favorite classics. The event also promises to feature appearances from MC Peter J. Gleason and “other surprise guests.”

The Impact on People concert will be held at The Castle, 109 Brookside Avenue in Chester, from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm on January 5. Tickets may be purchased online at www.thecastlefuncenter.com, as well as at Pizza Mia in New Windsor, Anytime Fitness in Cornwall, and 2 Alices in Cornwall-on-Hudson. All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.

However where there is change there is also opportunity. We’ve always been a band that has worked hard to put on the best show possible. So for those who felt maybe NUTS has hit the wall… well we’re really ready to break through it. So Nuts in A Blender will now be holding open auditions for the position of lead singer effective immediately. If you know of someone who is a terrific singer, engaging performer with the confidence to front a band, we would love to meet them. This will be an opportunity for someone to join one of the top cover bands in Hudson Valley and Upstate New York. We earn great pay, we play to big crowds and treat the band like a business. And in 2013 we’re looking to take things even further beyond nightclubs and into with wedding and corporate events.

We’re looking for a singer who is an energetic performer and can inspire an audience. For someone with great vocal range who also feels comfortable singing rock, rap, pop, and current Top 40. They also must be a team player and co-exist with many other members of the band. Most gigs will require the commitment of weekends and occasional week nights. Rehearsals are twice a month and some shows will require an overnight stay and occasional travel.
For those who wish to apply please send a note about yourself and some type of reviewable demo media (ie: mp3’s, video) including three songs to mike@nutsinablender.com. We’ll contact you upon receipt and if we feel you are a good match for this band we’ll move forward and set up an audition.

-NUTS

Join us for the 2012 WRRV Boo Ball, the biggest and best Halloween Party in the Hudson Valley! Nuts in a Blender will be jamming out all night on stage, Michael Bochar will amaze you with a full show of magic and illusion… plus we will have a $1,000 costume contest, with cash prizes for runners up. Doors will open at 8pm and the band goes on at 9. We will have a full cash bar. Get your friends together and join us for the 2012 WRRV Boo Ball… you never know what else could happen at the Boo Ball! Purchase your tickets below…. tickets will be more expensive at the door!

7pm-9pm is an OPEN BAR… that’s in as open and come out and drink!!!

Victor Vargas will be spinning mad jams and from 10- 2am NUTS hits the stage… Gangnam style (come on, you think we’d ‘miss’ covering this song?)

This will be epic! ***5*** FIVE YEARS!!! The Empty Bottle Saloon Come out and celebrate 5 years at one of the best rooms in the Hudson Valley. So much Nuttiness happened here over the years, we can’t even begin…

Check out 5 years worth of memories in the videos below:

NUTS is off this entire weekend, resting up for a great September. We had a blast this summer playing our favorite clubs, some terrific weddings, big public events and some kickin private parties. Sadly summer will symbolically come to an end for most of us with our closing parties at The Beach and Gully’s. And remember to check us out next Saturday at General Montgomery Day Parade as well.

Here are just some of the events!

First up is The Greenville Inn… the terrific little spot in the middle of somewhere… right in the cross hairs of the NJ, PA and NY state borders! We’ve been known to pull people as far away as Hackettstown to the Greenville Inn. That’s not exactly ‘around the corner’ . Dave Zubi did everything right when he opened the doors to this place. Great food, great staff, and great customers. Our Friday night shows can be a little wild… we here there is going to be a fresh contingency of divorcees on the scene. They are already taking dibs on dances with Zippy. We can only hope  he’s been stocking up on his Go Go juice (pure refined Pepsi).

FRIDAY AUG 17th, THE GREENVILLE INN, 980 US Rt 6, Port Jervis, NY 10pm

This Saturday we return to The Beach at Schlesingers. An All-Star Venue in the Hudson Valley if there ever was one. Let’s talk about a comeback. Last summer, between the weather and other venues The Beach was a little on the ropes. This summer The Beach was home to some of the best shows we’ve ever played there. We’re hoping this Saturday can be even better! Only a few more weeks of sun and fun. Lets make this a big one!

SATURDAY AUG 18th, THE BEACH AT SCHLESINGERS, 270 Temple Hill Rd, New Windsor, NY 10pm

This week we have a great pair of gigs. Nu Cavu in Wallkill on Saturday night. For those who haven’t been here before here is a great gem of a spot to see us. A private airport with an outdoor stage and terrific resturant smack in the middle of somewhere. The last few shows here have been a blast. It’s a great change of pace from other venues in the area, easy parking and not far from Newburgh. It’s like a big outdoor party. Come out and get NUTS with us!

This Sunday we’re back on the River Rose for our 8th trip with WRRV. Eight years is a long time and every year we love doing this trip. We meet so many fans of WRRV and the station staff couldn’t be cooler. Unfortunately, to hitch a ride on this barge you must’ve previously won tickets. Don’t worry we’ll have some pics and video for those who can’t make it.

Nuts in a Blender turns 10 with bash at Billy Joe’s

Party band Nuts in a Blender was only supposed to exist for four nights.

It was only supposed to plug the hole in Gully’s entertainment schedule after bassist and singer Mike Mack’s band, Punky B, broke up, leaving four musicless nights during the summer of 2002.

It was only supposed to be those four nights in 2002. But tell that to the members of Nuts in a Blender.

Friday, the party band best known for covering Rihanna, the Beastie Boys and everything in between will celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a two-set bash slated for Billy Joe’s Ribworks on the Newburgh waterfront.

“We’re expecting a huge turnout. We’ve made a lot of friends over the years,” Mack said. “This is celebrating everyone who comes out to see us. Without them, we’re zero. We’re nothing.”

Nuts in a Blender began a decade ago as a rock cover band, replicating the sounds of Bon Jovi, Journey and Guns ‘N Roses.

“Our motto from day one: If you can’t sing along or dance along to it, we won’t play it,” Mack said, “and we’ve stuck to that.”

The music has changed over the years. A typical Nuts in a Blender show these days features the soulful crooning of Adele and the hip-hop techno of LMFAO. But on Friday, as party rock is in the house, don’t be shocked if you hear old faves thrown in.

Back in 2002, with gigs lined up at Gully’s and no band to perform, Mack asked his friends if they’d be willing to form a band for the summer, and then they’d be done. But as the summer of 2002 ended, band members decided to keep Nuts in a Blender around for just a little while longer.

Nearly 1,000 shows, more than 300 songs, 15,000 photos and 100 videos later, the band is not even close to slowing down. Band members have come and gone. Each has kept Nuts in a Blender going.

“We’re a family,” Mack said. “It’s a great feeling to realize that we’re still together, that we’re as close as we always were. Us having fun is what makes people have a lot of fun. We hope we have another 10 years together.”

With band manager Steve Hansen at the helm, Mack hopes that Nuts in a Blender can share the sound that made them a Hudson Valley mainstay to the tri-state area.

“We would like to play in new markets,” he said, “and make new friends in other states.”