Summer concerts kick off Sunday
Motown sounds will be featured at the summer’s first free Sunday evening concert of the season on Sunday, June 26
Show time is 7-8:30 p.m. but evening festivities begin at 5.
Dr. K’s Motown Revue, a tribute band performing R&B hits, takes the stage in the bandshell at Duke Island Park off Old York Road in Bridgewater.
The Party in the Park will feature healthy living activities, including yoga and tai chi, a guided nature walk, healthy snacks, kids’ games, a reading tent, chair massage and blood pressure screenings.
Bring some school supplies or books to donate to the “Stuff the Bus” project to donate to underprivileged youth. A barbecue meal will be available for purchase.
This event is a collaborative effort between the Somerset County Park Commission and United Way of Northern New Jersey, Somerset County Chapter. Bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets and enjoy the variety of musical performers.
The Park Commission’s will present a full schedule of Sunday concerts at Duke Island Park, but the next event will be a July 4th Family Festival at North Branch Park on Milltown Road, Bridgewater.
On Monday, July 4, from 5 to 11 p.m., the family festival will feature Verdict and Total Soul. Verdict will bring a blend of reggae, calypso, soca and funk island music. The Total Soul 11-piece band performs R&B, soul and Motown hits, with a mix of four-
part vocal harmony, a soul-driven rhythm section and “hot” horns.
Other highlights of the day include children’s entertainment and activities, historical re-enactments and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
In inclement weather, call the concert hotline at 908-722-1200, ext. 7.
Information on Park Commission activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org.
The rest of the summer schedule:
Sunday, July 10 — 7-8:30 p.m. Tommy Mara & The Crests with special guest Carisma. The Crests began as a New York R&B doo-wop group in the late 1950s. Their most popular song was “16 Candles,” which rose to number 2 on the Billboard charts. Carisma opens the show; the group of six perform the hits of groups like the Fifth Dimension, Temptations and Doobie Brothers.
Sunday, July 17 —7-8:30 p.m. Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes. The group had a string of platinum and gold hits, including “Bad Luck,” “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and “Wake Up, Everybody.”
Sunday, July 24 —7-8:30 p.m. American tenor Michael Amante, who can command the heroic volleys of Puccini or melt the tender phrases of “O Sole Mio.”
Sunday, July 31 — 15th Annual Bayou Fest, 5:30-8:30 p.m. In the first hour, dance band Zydeco-A-Go-Go will bring a blend of Cajun two-
steps, New Orleans rhythm & blues and Louisiana rock & roll. CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band from 7-8:30 p.m. embraces traditional zydeco and includes elements of funk, Southern soul, R&B, rock and jazz.
Sunday, Aug. 7 — 7-8:30 p.m. Guitarist Smokin’ Joe Kubek teams with singer/
guitarist Bnois King’s soul-tinged vocals and jazz-oriented style.
Sunday, Aug. 14 — 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Infernos, a group of nine, includes four lead vocalists backed by a rhythm section and trumpet and multiple saxophones. Featuring former members of The Duprees and The Classics IV, The Infernos will perform such hit songs as “You Belong To Me,” “Have You Heard,” “Every Day With You Girl,” “Traces” and “Stormy.”
Sunday, Aug. 21 — 7-8:30 p.m. Neil & The Diamonds in a Neil Diamond tribute, including “From Forever in Bluejeans,” “Cracklin Rosie,” “Sweet Caroline” and “America.”
Sunday, Aug. 28 — 7-8:30 p.m. New Riders of the Purple Sage. Forty years ago, Jerry Garcia and other Grateful Dead musicians formed a band that mixed country rockabilly harmonies with pulsing rock rhythms. Their largest selling gold record was “Panama Red.”

