RED BANK – One of the region’s largest free music festivals, The Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival, will take placeMay 30 through June 1 in scenic Marine Park on the banks of the beautiful Navesink River in Red Bank.
The festival, presented by the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation, offers three full days and nights of jazz, blues, food, crafts and plenty of family fun. Nearly 150,000 attendees are expected this year to enjoy some of the best jazz and blues music around.
The headliners appearing at the Marina Stage are Matt O’Ree at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 30, Greg Piccolo and Heavy Juice at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, and Ron Sunshine and his Orchestra at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. Other performers at the Marina Stage include The Jazz Lobsters, Mikey Jr. and Cold Stone Blues and Moose and the Bulletproof Blues Band.
Performers appearing on the BackBeat Stage include perennial favorite and blues educator TJ Wheeler, who will perform several times throughout the weekend, sometimes joined by one of the most successful educational projects the JSJBF operates, The JSJBF Youth Project Band.
This year’s festival will have a third performance venue, the Riverfront Stage. Performers appearing on this stage include The Long Gone Daddies, Sandy Mack and The Tri City Jazz Band.
This year’s festival includes a huge interactive basketball exhibit, the USABasketball Red, White and Hoops Tour, presented by State Farm. The Festival also includes a broad sampling of the top area restaurants, artisans and craftspeople as well as a children’s area. This free festival is fun for the whole family.
The Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival will run 5-10 p.m. Friday night, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For a complete lineup of performers and festival information, visit www.redbankfestival. com or call 732-933-1984.