‘Rock the ’80s’ Concert Returns for 13th Year in Support of Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund

A collection of popular local musicians will once again rock out for a great cause with a concert that promises to be, like, totally rad.

The 13th annual “Rock the ’80s” concert benefiting the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund will feature eight bands at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, at The State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave.

Concertgoers are encouraged to wear ’80s attire — there will be prizes for best solo and duo/group costumes — while they travel back to the era of big hair and neon with performances by Coal Aly, Crush, Genuine Red & The Issues, JR Mangan Band, The Extractors, Skoal Brothers, Anchor & Arrow and The Long Afternoon.

Jeff Brown once again returns to emcee the evening.

The Bob Perks Fund also will host a pre-show “Totally Rad Reception” with beer, wine and appetizers from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Kish Expect More Store, 114 S. Allen St. from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Concert tickets are $40 and tickets for the reception are an additional $20. Both can be purchased online through The State Theatre website.

Since its first edition in 2013, when J.R. Mangan came up with the concept and organized the event, the concert has raised $165,000 to support local cancer patients who cannot work and pay for basic expenses while undergoing treatment. It’s become one of the Bob Perks Fund’s major annual events to ensure that every dollar raised is donated to help a cancer patient in need.

“The event’s continued success is assured because James Miller and J.R. Mangan provide leadership, and local bands donate their time, energy, good will and talent to support the mission of Bob Perks Fund,” the organization wrote in a news release.

Since 2006, Bob Perks Fund has raised and distributed more than $3 million to pay for the basic expenses of thousands of cancer patients living in Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Mifflin and Juniata counties. The organization allocated a record $367,000 to 464 cancer patients in 2024.