It’s festival time in New Jersey, so let’s get right into the action, folks!
Asbury Park Surf Music Festival – Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 – 12 p.m. – Rain Or Shine – The Anchor’s Bend & Grand Arcade At Convention Hall
The Asbury Park Surf Music Festival has found its new beachfront home for 2016 at The Anchor’s Bend & Grand Arcade at Convention Hall. Festival organizers—husband and wife team, Vincent Minervino and Magdalena O’Connell—are inspired by the great surf music events from around the world. Their goal is to bring friends and families together each summer for a day of reverb-soaked surf music, refreshing tiki drinks, shimmering classic cars, and brilliant local artisans, all with the beautiful Asbury Park Beach in the background.
The East’s Coast’s #1 Surf Music Event features live instrumental surf music. APSMF 2016 showcases the best surfing groups in the Northeast, with a headlining performance from Messer Chups (St. Petersburg, Russia).
Curated by the Festival organizers, the APSMF drink menu features the best in classic and modern tropical libations! There will also be a classic car show. Calling all woodies! Attendees can request free VIP parking via the festival website. The market in the Grand Arcade will also offer a collection of locally handmade goods, curated in partnership with the Asbury Park Bazaar.
The kickoff party starts with guitar legend Dick Dale at Wonder Bar on 8/25 and continues with the Aloha Friday Pool Party at The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel on 8/26. Messer Chups (St. Petersburg, Russia) will headline APSMF 2016 on their first-ever U.S. tour. They will also perform two club shows in the area, 8/26 at The Gutter in Brooklyn and 8/28 at Kung-Fu Necktie in Philadelphia.
APSMF 2016 features the return of Asbury Lanes favorites The Nebulas—their first time in Asbury in eight years! After Party with DJ Zombierella (Messer Chups) and DJ Felton Fink (The Primitive Finks) are presented in partnership with Little Death Collective—Jenn Hampton of Asbury Lanes. Sponsors Asbury Park Brewery and Asbury Park Moto Club have signed on in support of the event. APSMF will feature Asbury Park Brewery’s XPA as the featured beer.
Local market curated in partnership with Asbury Park Bazaar will feature 16 local artisans in the Grand Arcade at Convention Hall, and there will be a small cruise of classic cars on display from Asbury car club Devil Drivers throughout the weekend.
Below is the full music lineup as of this listing:
Messer Chups (St. Petersburg, Russia)
The Nebulas (Providence, RI)
Black Flamingos (Asbury Park, NJ)
Atomic Mosquitos (Arlington, VA)
The Primitive Finks (Philadelphia, PA)
Slowey & The Boats (Philadelphia, PA)
The Sharkskins (Philadelphia, PA)
Blue Wave Theory (Cherry Hills, NJ)
The Tarantinos NYC (Astoria, NY)
The Televisionaries (Rochester, NY)
Bongo Surf (Jersey City, NJ)
For information, tickets & contact go to apsurfmusicfest.com.
Rock The Farm Is Back! Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ, August 27
Rock The Farm is a premier Music and Food Truck Festival located in Central New Jersey. This family-friendly event will be taking place on August 27 from 1-10 p.m. at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.
The event is in its third consecutive year, and features the best lineup yet. The artists in attendance include iTunes sensation Trevor Hall, Chadwick Stokes of Dispatch and State Radio, Artimus Pyle of Lynyrd Skynyrd and his band. The newest additions of the festival feature rock and roll legend and bassist of Alice Cooper Group, Dennis Dunaway. Joe Bouchard, the founding member of the band Blue Öyster Cult, will also be joining the lineup. The lineup is stellar and is sure to appease the ear of anyone in attendance, as it has something for everyone.
This year also features New Jersey’s own Matt O’Ree Band. Accompanying O’Ree will be longtime Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan. Bryan has become a local mainstay at Jersey rooms and frequently joins Matt and the band for impromptu jams and sets throughout the state. Vini Lopez and Quincy Mumford And The Reason Why will also be on the list of exceptional entertainers for this outstanding day. Along with Blue Öyster Cult’s Joe Bouchard, Brother Albert will be joining him as well. Put that alongside the fact that rock and roll drumming legend Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge) will be playing (with the Characters) and that’s about as good as it can get.
The great variety of genres paired with extraordinary talented artists will make it a festival to remember. Where else can you find such a great mix of local talent and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends? You don’t want to miss this. The festival also features yoga, guided meditation, petting zoo, pony rides, corn hole competition, games, craft vendors, a kids zone and food trucks galore! I’ve been told that there will be over 25 different food truck menus available to the public. What else could you want?
Three distinct stages will supply the music over the entire course of the day, and all kid-related arts and crafts are open all day. Pony rides and petting zoos are from 2-6 p.m.
All proceeds from the festival benefit New Jersey’s Recovery Community Center, an organization that promotes positive life choices by aiding drug recovery efforts and inspiring a healthy lifestyle. This event is brought to you in part by CJS Builders, DAL Electric, & JBL Industries.
Tickets: $50 until Aug. 27, $60 at gate; kids 10 and under free; student & military discounts are available. Head over to rockthefarm.com.
If there is anyone who you might think would be a welcome addition to this column, please email me at john@theaquarian.com. Have a great week!
