BRICK – In a sure sign that summer is getting closer, the township has awarded a contract for production services related to the 2019 Summerfest concert series.
LaGuardia & Associates of Cedar Grove has the $32,900 contract for the entertainment and production services associated with the concert series, held every summer in Windward Beach Park.
This is the second year the Summerfest concerts series will be held every Thursday in July, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the concert series, so Mayor John G. Ducey said the administration is expecting the largest crowds ever.
“If everyone remembers, 25 years ago we were the first town anywhere in this area to do summer concerts, and since then every town in Monmouth and Ocean Counties picked up on something that Brick started,” Ducey said during the February 26 council meeting. “So we want to have the best bands that we’ve ever had.”
The lineup starts on July 4 with Jessie’s Girl, who feature 80s music and create a party atmosphere by dressing up as characters from that decade, including Bon Jovi, Cindi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and others.
On July 11, Brian Kirk and the Jirks, a nine- to 12-piece band who frequently play at the Jersey Shore, feature interactive, high-energy music.
Formed in the early 1990s, they are a well-known band on the East Coast circuit, and famous for their hilarious antics and infectious personalities with an endless song list of popular songs.
For the third concert, on July 18, the township has booked Boathouse Row, which plays yacht rock, or a soft rock that is a new trend in popular music, Ducey said.
The band features the sounds of artists like Hall & Oates, Journey, Christopher Cross, the Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Huey Lewis and others.
And for the final concert, on July 25, Garden State Radio will perform songs from over the past four decades. Their signature performances allow audience members to not only hear the music, but to also see and feel it with their state-of-the-art light show that is synced to their musical performance.
The Summerfest concert series is always followed with fireworks, and over the years it has grown to include food trucks and a wine and beer garden.
Shuttle bus service has been tweaked this year: for the first concert on July 4, a new shuttle bus has been added and will leave from Brick Memorial High School. A new shuttle bus has been added to Veterans Memorial Middle School for all the Summerfest concerts, as well as previous shuttle stops at Drum Point Elementary School, Brick High School, and Midstreams Elementary School. Shuttles leave for Windward Beach starting around 5:30 p.m. and run continuously.
A “mini” concert series is scheduled for Wednesdays in August at Traders Cove Park and Marina.
According to Director of Recreation Dan Santaniello, the concert series has taken off, and with a new sound system and better technology, he said they’re also expecting record crowds.
Concerts for Traders Cove include The Basso Brothers on August 7th; Tim McLoone, The Shirleys & the Atlantic Coast Band on August 14; Motor City Revue (a 10 piece band) on August 21; and for the last show on August 28, DJ Chris Anthony is scheduled from 7 p.m.-8 p.m., and Michael Jackson impersonator, Peter Carter’s MJ King of Pop 60th Birthday Tribute will perform from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. The rain date for each Traders Cove show is the following night on Thursdays. Unless otherwise stated, all the summer concerts begin at 7 p.m.
