New Jersey ska fans’ favorite show of the year, Skanksgiving, is making its return to Starland Ballroom for the first time since 2022. The show will be headlined by Goldfinger and Save Ferris, and will feature other prominent ska names on the bill.
This is what you should expect.
Goldfinger
Goldfinger, a Los Angeles punk rock and ska band, has headlined the festival four times. The only groups to do it more are Mustard Plug (6) and Backyard Superheroes (7).
John Feldmann, lead singer and guitarist, has worked with several groups like blink-182, All Time Low, Good Charlotte, and Avril Lavigne as a producer.
Goldfinger will be joined by MxPx bassist and vocalist Mike Herrera as the band’s touring bassist.
Skanksgiving will be the return for Goldfinger to the state of New Jersey for the first time since 2022, when they last headlined the festival with Mustard Plug. The last time they performed at a venue other than the Starland Ballroom in NJ would be in 2008 at The Stone Pony.
The band has a new song, “I Had Some Help,” which is a cover of Post Malone’s country song with Morgan Wallen. The cover features Less Than Jake.
Save Ferris
Save Ferris’ last show of the year is in New Jersey as they’ll be co-headlining on the bill. The female-fronted group has been around since the ‘90s and have played a decent amount of shows since.
In 2024, they performed at Asbury Lanes as part of the Hi-Tide Summer Holiday run. They also headlined the Starland Ballroom in 2023 with Joker’s Republic and Backyard Superheroes, and appeared at Vans Warped 25 Years festival in Atlantic City in 2019.
Pilfers
Pilfers, who can be considered a supergroup in the ska world, is composed of Toasters vocalist Coolie Ranx, Pietasters vocalist Steve Jackson, and Bim Skala Bim trombonist Vinny Nobile.
The NYC ska group is part of the third-wave movement, originating in 1997 and running until 2001. The band got back together in 2008 and have been playing since.
Little of the band’s shows in New Jersey are known, however they performed at Skanksgiving in 2009 and at Asbury Lanes in 2008. It’s been a long time since Pilfers have returned to Starland.
The current lineup is composed of Coolie Ranx, Nick Bacon, James Blanck, and Anna Milat-Meyer. Notable past members include Ben Basile and former Reel Big Fish trombonist and current trombonist for The Interrupters, Billy Kottage.
The band calls themselves a “blend of ska, rock, hardcore, and reggae and dub.”
Joystick!
New Orleans ska punk band Joystick! are performing their first Skanksgiving to date this weekend. Their last and only show on record in New Jersey was in 2023, when they performed at Asbury Park’s Bond Street Basement.
The band performed at Denver Ska Fest in Denver this year with Goldfinger and Less Than Jake, and with a variety of artists at The Fest in Gainesville, FL, in 2023.
The eight-piece group are making their way up for their only northeast show of the year. The band toured parts of the midwest and the UK over the summer.
Joker’s Republic
Joker’s Republic is an Essex County, New Jersey-based ska band, which is about as local as it gets to Starland Ballroom, besides Streetlight Manifesto and their relation to Keasbey.
The band performed various sets around the United States this year, featuring originals like “Gin and Tonic” plus covers like Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me” and Streetlight Manifesto’s “Everything Went Numb.”
Backyard Superheroes
The band that the festival can be named after: Backyard Superheroes. The group has played the show more than any other band in years past. This year will be their seventh time performing.
In a 25-minute opening set at Skanksgiving in 2022, the group performed their originals plus Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge.” The band has performed at Starland Ballroom at least eight times. They also were featured at Skate and Surf Festival during its return at Six Flags Jackson in 2013.
Tickets are still available for Skanksgiving this year. NJ Music Festivals encourages you to purchase tickets via one of the local artists to save on fees and to support them.
Doors open at 5:00 pm and music will start promptly at 5:30 pm, so we recommend you get there early.
NJ Music Festivals 