The dawn of spring coupled with good food and lively entertainment will bring out thousands for the mile-square city’s first springtime celebration, the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival.
Presented by the City of Hoboken and the Hudson Reporter newspaper chain, the Sunday, May 2 festival will transform Washington Street into a marketplace of over 300 artists, photographers and craftspeople, with four outdoor performance stages and over 30 international food vendors. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Washington Street between Newark and Seventh streets.
Hoboken Mayor David Roberts, who was a sponsor of the first Arts and Music Festival nearly a decade ago while on the City Council, said that this event has become one of the major highlights of the city’s cultural calendar.
“It’s a great day for Hoboken,” said Roberts Thursday. “It has truly become one of the leading art and music festivals in the state, and every year I’m gratified that thousands of visitors come to Hoboken to enjoy what our beautiful city has to offer.”
Musical talent
There will be three stages with music ranging from rock, pop, jazz, swing, country, bluegrass and salsa. Headlining this year’s festival is British folk-rock performer Donovan Leitch. Donovan, a ’60s performer who is among the symbolic personalities of the Flower Power era, began experimenting with psychedelic sounds and hanging out with the Beatles. He produced trippy rock hits like “Sunshine Superman” and “Mellow Yellow.”
Also scheduled to perform will be AJ Azzarto and the New Hoboken Four. Frank Sinatra’s granddaughter, Azzarto leads a five-piece combo in celebrating the great American songbook. This performance follows up on her mother Nancy’s appearance here last year.
Also appearing are King Norris featuring Fred Norris from the Howard Stern Show, local Sinatra/Ska fusion band Skanatra, Tin Huey, Raphael Cruz, Lenahan, Mad Happy, The Demolition String Band, and more.
This year will also feature a Writer’s Hang stage hosted by Scott E. Moore, located on the lawn in front of DeBaun Auditorium at Fifth and Hudson streets. Bring a blanket to sit on and local singers and songwriters will perform on that stage from noon to 5 p.m.
Other attractions
Artists will display oil paintings, watercolors, sculpture and photography. Crafters will also be on hand selling pottery, dried flowers, jewelry, metalwork, hand-painted furniture and blown glass.
A special children’s area will feature rides, games and live performances.
Hoboken restaurants will set up street cafes offering an eclectic variety of international foods such as Thai, Indian, Greek, French, Mexican, Cajun and Italian. Vendors will feature culinary items including biscotti, cappuccino, funnel cake, zeppoles, grilled chicken, gyros, butterfly fries, corn on the cob and grilled veggies. SCHEDULE
First Street stage
AJ Azzarto, noon to 12:30 p.m.; Damn Lovelys, 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.; Skanatra, 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.; King Norris, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.; Demolition String Band, 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.; Donovan, 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sixth Street stage
Hoboken High School’s Ragtime, noon to 12:30 p.m.; Mad Happy, 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.; Swingadelic 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Tin Huey, 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Lenahan, 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Verdict, 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Raphael Cruz, 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Third Street stage (for children)
Polka Dot Rock, noon to 12:30 p.m.; Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy, 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.; Sing-A-Long with Big Jeff, 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Sing-A-Long with Big Jeff, 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Actor’s Shakespeare Company 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.; Polka Dot Rock, 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Times Square Kidz 5:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Other details
The festival is free and open to the public. This year it is sponsored by the Hudson Reporter Newspapers, MIX 102.7, 1010 WINS, WCBS FM, WCBS News Radio, K Rock, WFAN, NJ Lottery, NJ Online, Trust Company Bank, PATH, Port Authority of NY & NJ, TDI, Sheraton Suites and John Wiley and Sons Inc. For information, call (201) 420-2207. The rain date is Sunday, May 16. Pick up next week’s Current (April 29) for an in-depth interview with Donovan.