Los Lobos Concert Will Raise Hurricane Ida Relief Funds For Millburn Residents

MILLBURN, NJ — Not even a full week after Rocktoberfest, Millburn will host yet another rock concert — this time to raise money for local Hurricane Ida relief.

Presented by the Jodi and Joanna Group, rock band Los Lobos will perform a hurricane relief concert at the Paper Mill Playhouse Thursday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. The concert is free admission, but attendees are encouraged to make donations.

Los Lobos may be best known for their version of "La Bamba" from the 1987 film of the same name.

The proceeds from the concert will specifically benefit residents of Millburn who experienced damage from Hurricane Ida. According to a press release, there are currently 55 homes in the area that are considered severely damaged from the flooding. Many residents are displaced and need to find new homes due to their homes becoming uninhabitable.

Joanna Parker-Lentz — a local businesswoman/promoter and town volunteer coordinator — decided to pull this concert together last-minute after a performance by Los Lobos at the South Orange Performing Arts Center was canceled for a third time — twice because of COVID-19 and this time for flooding.

Working in coordination with local musician Lenny “Livingston Leo” and Los Lobos management, Parker-Lentz was able to organize the event with just one week's lead time.

Parker-Lentz and business partner Jodi Rubenstein created a GoFundMe on Sept. 4 for residents’ homes that were partly or fully destroyed by the storm. They have already raised over $50,000, but this still won't cover all the damage.

Although FEMA added Essex County to its Hurricane Ida disaster declaration list, the vast majority of homes that were damaged did not have flood insurance due to their neighborhood not being considered a flood zone. As rebuilding homes is estimated to cost millions of dollars, Parker-Lentz said this concert will help raise much-needed funds for people in need, as well as provide some healing via music.

Los Lobos is an East Los-Angeles band that explores a variety of genres, such as rock-and-roll and R&B, surf music, soul, mariachi and música norteña, punk rock and country. The multi-Grammy Award winning group’s new album Native Sons is an eclectic mix of songs about their L.A. homeland.

Concert posters, created by local artist and gallery owner Jesus Nunez, will also be available for purchase, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward the GoFundMe.

Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 7 p.m. Attendees must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and must wear masks while inside the Paper Mill Playhouse. Concertgoers are encouraged to park in Millburn and walk to the theater, as parking will be limited at the theater.

“We are honored to be able to bring our community together at Paper Mill Playhouse to help our friends and neighbors as they continue their herculean efforts to come back from Hurricane Ida’s devastation,” commented Paper Mill Playhouse’s Managing Director Michael Stotts.

“The Millburn Short Hills Township and Paper Mill are synonymous – one does not exist without the other. We are eager to assist in the recovery effort for Millburn, its businesses and residents, and look forward to opening our doors for this concert on September 23.”

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