SCPC Neil and the Diamonds - August 21, 2011

This evening's Somerset County Park Commission 2011 Summer Concert Series features Neil and the Diamonds, a Neil Diamond tribute. The free concert starts at 7 p.m. at Duke Island Park.



Neil Diamond's hits include Sweet Caroline, Solitary Man, Kentucky Woman, Cracklin' Rosie, Song Sung Blue, I Am...I Said, Forever in Blue Jeans,...and so many more that audience members grew up with.

The concerts are outdoors, so if the weather appears questionable, call (908) 722-1200 Ext.7.

##
For more information about the 2011 SCPC Concerts, go here.

SCPC Blues Concert

This evening's Somerset County Park Commission's 2011 Summer Concert Series features Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King.

Smokin Joe Kubek is an American Blues guitarist who partners with Bnois King's jazz-style guitar playing. Go to Smokin' Joe Kubek's website for more information and to listen to some blues music.

For an interesting interview about this blues band with two lead guitarists, go here.

The free concert starts at 7 p.m. at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater.

##
As these are outdoor concerts, in case of inclement weather call (908) 722-1200 extension 7 to see if the concert has been cancelled.

For more information about the SCPC 2011 Concerts go here.

SCPC Concert: Go Zydeco!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Take a trip to Zydeco country at this Sunday's Somerset County Park Commission's 15th Annual Bayou Fest at Duke Island Park.

This year's always-lively double-billed concert features Zydeco-A-Go-Go from 5:30-to-6:30 p.m. and CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band from 7-to-8:30 p.m.

To get you in the mood, some photographs from previous SCPC Bayou Fests...

More than a concert, this is a chance for concert-goers to immerse themselves in Cajun culture with the always popular Cajun food sold by Touch Bayou, a catering firm specializing in Cajun and Creole food.


There is no admission charge for the concert. Take a chair or blanket and your camera. Well-mannered dogs on leashes who do well in crowds are welcome.
##
To increase your appreciation of the concert, learn a little about zydeco music. According to the Zydeco Historical and Preservation Society "...the music draws upon French, Creole, West African, Cajun, Caribbean, and R & B musical traditions. Zydeco Music is characterized by the use of the accordion, spoons, scrubboard, fiddle and triangle...".

Wikipedia has an overview of zydeco music.
##
To whet your appetite, here is a menu from a past concert...

##
The Zydeco-A-Go-Go website is here.

The C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band website (where you can listen to some of their music)is here.

Touch Bayou Catering's website is here.

The Somerset County Park Commission news release about this concert is here.

SCPC Concert: July 24th, 2011

This Sunday's Somerset County Park Commission 2011 Summer Concert Series features American tenor Michael Amante.

According to the SCPC website...

"...Michael Amante is an American tenor who can sing it all. Whether commanding the heroic volleys of Puccini or melting the tender phrases of O Sole Mio, Amante charms not only the opera world, but all worlds. The New York Times declared that this "swashbuckling Italian tenor exhibits both the voice and charisma of a crossover star," and Tony Bennett has hailed him as "the new Mario Lanza." From Rao’s restaurant to the opera house and musical theater, Michael Amante will now shine for one night in Duke Island Park. Don’t miss this performance!..."

The free Sunday evening concert runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m and is held outdoors at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater.
.
Bring your own seating - a chair or blanket. With the hot weather this week, plan on bringing a few bottles of cool water.

##
The Somerset County Park Commission 2011 Concert Series information can be found here.

Michael Amante's website is here.

According to Mr. Amante's website, he will be accompanied by soprano Marissa Famiglietti. Ms. Famiglietti's website is here.
##
The photograph was taken at a concert at Duke Island Park several years ago.

SCPC July 10th Concert: Tommy Mara and the Crests with special guests Charisma

On Sunday the Somerset County Park Commission continues its 2011 Summer Concert Series with a doo-wop/boomer double-bill: Tommy Mara & the Crests with special guests Charisma.

The Crests' best remembered hits of the 1950s and 1960s include 16 Candles, The Angels Listened In, Step by Step, and Trouble in Paradise. Their doo-wop sound continues with Tommy Mara.

Charisma is a six-person Bronx-based group that covers the music of a variety of groups. According to their website "...Our repertoire includes selections from the four-man groups of the fifties, the Fifth Dimension, Spanky And Our Gang, the Temptations, Jay & the Americans, the Mamas and Papas, the Flamingos, the Doobie Brothers, Neil Sedaka, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and others...".

The Concert, held at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater, starts at 5:30 and continues to 8:30 p.m. According to the SCPC website

"...Tommy Mara and the Crests have been making music for a long time. The Crests began as a New York R&B do-wop group in the late 1950’s. Their most popular song was 16 Candles, which rose to number 2 on the Billboard Charts and sold more than one million copies. Today, they are still singing and wowing audiences. There will be no Trouble in Paradise in Duke Island Park – just many people singing along to the hits of that golden era. Charisma opens the shows. This dynamic group of six perform the hits of groups like The Fifth Dimension, The Temptations, and The Doobie Brothers...".

Bring chairs or a blanket, and snacks or a few dollars for an ice cream cone.
##
For information on the Somerset County Park Commission 2011 Summer Concert Series go here.
##
For an album of photographs from the June 26th SCPC Duke Island Park concert and extra activities go to here at mycentraljersey.com.
##
Above 2010 concert photo courtesy of George Mariasz.