Live music will return to stages across Middlesex County as its summer concert series gets started this week.
Music in the Park is an annual tradition and features a variety of free weekly performances at Raritan Bay Waterfront Park in South Amboy, Spring Lake Park Gazebo in South Plainfield, Warren Park Mini Theater in Woodbridge, and at the Thompson Park gazebo in Jamesburg. The South Amboy and Jamesburg concerts are on Wednesdays, and South Plainfield and Woodbridge are on Sundays.
The series kicks off July 6 with The Brio Concert Band at 2 p.m. in Jamesburg, and Walter Wagner and the Serenaders at 6:30 p.m. in SouthAmboy. Shows begin July 10 in Woodbridge with Mark Heter and His Band at 6 p.m. and The George Krauss Memorial Band at 6:30 p.m. in South Plainfield.
Jackie Neill, county recreation supervisor, said the audiences for each venue differ, but there are some crowd favorites that come back year after year, such as Bernie Goydish’s Jersey Polka Stars, who play July 27 in Jamesburg, and the Tim Gillis Band, performing Aug. 25 in SouthAmboy.
“Bernie has a huge audience that has followed him throughout his career, and polka music is extremely popular in this area,” she said. “The Tim Gillis Band appeals to an audience that is somewhat underserved in this area. Country music fans flock to see Tim and his band wherever they appear, and he gives a great show that always closes our concert season with a bang.”
Neill said the acts selected for the series are chosen because of their audience appeal.
“Groups interested in performing in our parks usually submit a CD of their work, and if the style of music suits our general audience, we try themout for a year or two to see if they develop a following. Both the Robert Murdock Band and Zydeco-A-Go-Go were added to our roster at [Waterfront Park] in recent years, and they were received very well. They now attract audiences of all ages.” As in the past, concertgoers can expect a wide variety of musical styles, with some returning favorites. One new band that organizers made particular note of, though, is Starfish. The band’s five musicians, all dads, will take the stage Aug. 17 at Raritan Bay Waterfront Park for the first time as part of the county’s summer concert series.
The Maplewood-based band, Neill said, will perform original, classic rock-based tunes that have kid-friendly lyrics.
“This band appeals to kids as well as parents and has really energized audiences in the tri-state area. We were excited at the prospect of providing entertainment for children as well as adults, and this seemed the perfect fit,” Neill said.
Neill said 2010 attendance beat that of 2009, thanks in part to cooperating weather. Only the South Amboy concerts have a rain location — the South Amboy Middle High School. But South Amboy’s outdoor location is a crowd favorite.
“Waterfront Park is the most popular venue. It’s such a beautiful setting — the concert gazebo sits atop a hill looking out over the bay, and there’s always a breeze, even in the hottest weather,” she said.
Despite a challenging economy, the concert series has not faced budget cuts, Neill said, because the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders “recognize how much this free concert series means to our patrons.” She noted that Freeholder Stephen “Pete” Dalina, parks and recreation chairman, has been a particular champion of the series.
Attendees, Neill said, may want to get to the venue early, particularly at Waterfront Park, where the gazebo and hill areas fill up quickly. The hill has great bay views, where concertgoers also can watch sailboat races from the Raritan Yacht Club.
Attendees at all county shows must bring their own chairs (unless a Waterfront Park show is moved indoors). A shuttle at Waterfront Park brings patrons from one end of the parking lot up to the concert gazebo and then back after the show. At Waterfront Park, shows are two hours; other venue shows are 90minutes. Start times vary by location (6:30 p.m. in South Amboy; 2 p.m. in Jamesburg). Patrons are welcome to make requests and speak with the band during a show break.
Neill said the feedback on the series is very positive. Residents, she said, “get the opportunity to spend a late afternoon or evening outdoors, enjoying the park, enjoying good music and good company with friends and family.” She said they appreciate that so many musical styles are represented, including polka, jazz/swing, classical, popular, standards, show tunes, country western and Irish music.
The concert series closes with the county’s annual Labor Day Concert at 4 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Stephen J. Capestro Theater, Roosevelt Park, Edison. The show will feature Kenny Vance and the Planotones and The Duprees.
For a complete concert list, visit http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/parksrecreation/ concerts.asp. For questions, call Neill at 732-745-3936 or the county parks department at 732-745-3900.