While many towns book cover bands that play familiar hits to entertain crowds at summer concerts, Woodbridge takes a different approach on Wednesday nights.
The Woodbridge Wednesday series features original acts from around the country, in past years delivering artists such as Lera Lynn, who is gaining notoriety for her new song in the trailer for HBO’s “True Detective” series.
Thanks to corporate funds, sponsorships and support from the mayor’s office, the Woodbridge Wednesday series will continue to bring new and eclectic artists to the stage at Parker Press Park on Rahway Avenue through Sept. 2.
The mastermind behind the Wednesday concert program is booking guru Bill Brandenburg, a Woodbridge resident who — with the help of colleague Al Schaefer — also booked the acts for the township’s new Country Sundays series.
“These are significant artists who have been doing some big-time things, but haven’t been on the radio or the Colbert show yet,” Brandenburg said.
Brandenburg finds the bands through research and by visiting venues like the Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, which hosts many up-and-coming musicians.
He said his desire to discover new artists dates back to his childhood.
Brandenburg recalled the Beatles’ groundbreaking performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in the 1960s. After watching the performance as a 10-year-old at his home in Iselin, he developed a fiery passion to find new and invigorating music.
In 2003, he pursued his dream and began to write on a music website, describing the concerts he attended. A few years later, he started thinking of ideas for a new concert space and wrote an email to Town Hall. He was then invited to work with the arts committee on its musical endeavors.
Brandenburg said Mayor John McCormac came up with the idea in 2010 to provide contemporary music in addition to the oldies acts and cover bands that perform on Mondays and Tuesdays.
“In 2010, our first Woodbridge Wednesday series was in the street on Main Street, and we actually had a stage,” Brandenburg said.
The performances were moved the following year to the shade of Parker Press Park, where they have been held ever since.
“I’m one of those people who never lost the excitement of discovering new music,” Brandenburg said. “A lot of the bands we’ve had have gone on to do significant things, and that’s what I’m looking for — to get those acts before they get too big where I can’t afford to have them.”
The Woodbridge Farmers Market will be held in conjunction with the Wednesday concerts from 3-8:30 p.m. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
“We’ve seen people shop at the Farmers Market, stop and take their bag to the picnic bench to watch the show,” said Brian Molnar, assistant director of recreation in Woodbridge.
The series will present the Four Legged Faithful on July 1; Red Molly, July 8; the Black Lillies, July 15; Yarn, July 22; Brother Sun, July 29; Guy Davis, Aug. 5; Ari Hest, Aug. 12; Joe D’Urso and Stone Caravan, Aug. 19; El Caribefunk, Aug. 26; and Kenny White, Sept. 2.