Essex County has announced its schedule of free concert at county parks. This year’s series features two concert and fireworks spectaculars, the South Orange International Blues Festival and Brookdale Park concerts being returned to Friday nights.
The 2012 SummerMusic Concert Series begins Saturday, June 16 with a gospel festival in Monte Irvin Orange Park and concludes Sunday, September 9 with the blues festival at South Mountain Reservation. There will be 26 different performances in all, including a “Broadway Extravaganza” at Kip’s Castle in Verona on Tuesday, July 24. Here is the schedule:
Saturday, June 16, 2 to 5 p.m., Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Gospel Festival
Saturday, June 23, 12 Noon to 8 p.m., Weequahic Park, Newark: House Music Festival (rain date is Saturday, June 30)
Tuesday, June 26, 7 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, Newark: Gordon James
Wednesday, June 27, 7 p.m., Irvington Park, Irvington: Layonne Holmes Quintet
Thursday, June 28, 7 p.m., Independence Park, Newark: Jose Chavarria Quintet
Friday, June 29, 7:30 p.m., Branch Brook Park, Newark: Concert by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Fireworks Spectacular
Monday, July 2, 7:30 p.m., Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Concert by The Duprees and Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Fireworks Spectacular
Friday, July 6, 7:30 p.m., Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: The Happenings & Kenny Vance and The Planotones
Tuesday, July 10, 7 p.m., Vailsburg Park, Newark: Bradford Hayes
Wednesday, July 11, 7 p.m., Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Denise Hamilton
Friday, July 13, 7:30 p.m., Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: A Tribute to Journey & The Four Tops featuring Separate Ways and Standing in the Shadows
Tuesday, July 17, 7 p.m., Riverbank Park, Newark: Son 9 Quintet
Wednesday, July 18, 7 p.m., West Side Park, Newark: Cross Culture Club
Friday, July 20, 7:30 p.m., Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Jazz Under the Stars featuring the Muzzy Mercado Group and Ken Navarro
Tuesday, July 24, 7 p.m., Kip’s Castle Park, Montclair/Verona: Broadway Extravaganza
Wednesday, July 25, 7 p.m., Yanticaw Park, Nutley: The Dalton Gang
Friday, July 27, 7:30 p.m., Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Springsteen Tribute with the B Street Band and The Infernos
Tuesday, July 31, 7 p.m., Watsessing Park, Bloomfield/East Orange: Carrie Jackson
Wednesday, August 1, 7 p.m., Grover Cleveland Park, Caldwell/Essex Fells: The 70’s Project
Friday, August 3, 7:30 p.m., Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: The Hitmen
Tuesday, August 7, 7 p.m., Ivy Hill Park, Newark: Jazz by Gradie Stone
Wednesday, August 8, 7 p.m., Weequahic Park, Newark: Lonnie Youngblood
Friday, August 10, 7:30 p.m., Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange: The Garden State Concert Band
Sunday, August 12, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Spanish Festival
Saturday, September 8, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Caribbean Festival
Sunday, September 9, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., South Mountain Reservation, West Orange: Mike Griot presents the South Orange International Blues Festival
Concerts are held at accessible sites. Persons who require special accommodations or assistance are asked to call at least two weeks prior to the concert to alert staff as to their needs. Admission to the concerts is free. For more information, please call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs at 973‑239-2485.
The SummerMusic Concert Series is being sponsored by Filippo Berio Olive Oil, Rose Squared Productions, TD Bank and the Branch Brook Park Alliance. The series is also made possible, in part, by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
