Face it: After scraping together hundreds of dollars to see Gaga, Rihanna, Janet, and Britney, there’s nothing left in the live music budget. Even if you skipped this summer’s biggest tours and opted for, say, Stone Temple Pilots, the Goo Goo Dolls, and Death Cab for Cutie, resources are still low.
So here’s a good way to stretch the dollars and still keep yourself entertained: Check out Summerfest, Jersey City’s free summer concert series in Liberty State Park. The series may not feature Grammy-winning marquee names, but it offers 10 shows filled with talented musicians who know how to work an audience and keep heads nodding.
“With all the shootings and all the hard times, people really want something to lift their spirits up,” – Cliff Perkins
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“We’ve been doing this for the last 40 years,” said Cliff Perkins, a program associate with the division of cultural Affairs who organizes the series. “When I first took over the concert series, probably about six years ago, we had crowds of maybe 150 people. Now we’re getting crowds of 250, 300 people and above. And I attribute that to the artists.”
In total, Perkins estimated that about 4,000 concert-goers check out Summerfest annually.
This Sunday, July 31, audiences will be treated to the jazz sounds of Don Carter and Omar-Sound. The show begins at 5 p.m.
This concert will be among two jazz shows included in the 2011 Summerfest line-up. The other, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 7, will again include Omar-Sound with the Moonlighters, a big band jazz ensemble.
The trick to making the series entertaining, said Perkins, is to keep the lineup of concerts fresh, eclectic, and diverse. Each year, Perkins says he tries to “switch the music up” by selecting a mix of musical artists from the jazz, R&B, pop, classic soul, and Latin music genres. (Some years the lineup of concerts even includes classical music artists as well.)
The shows appeal to everyone from seniors to Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. Don’t expect the 20-something crowd to show up in droves, but Perkins said some acts, for example Generation of Soul, can draw a diverse audience that can attract college co-eds.
Generation of Soul will take the Summerfest stage on Sunday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m.
“It just tells you that people want to see these kinds of acts. In this day and age, with all the shootings and all the hard times, people really want something to lift their spirits up,” Perkins noted. “This series is a reminder that there are some good times to be had. These concerts are things people can relate to. The series lets people laugh and smile. People can come to these shows, know they’re going to have a great evening, and know they’re going to get home safe.”
What to know before you go
Summerfest concerts are free to the public since the series is underwritten with the support of corporate donations.
Perkins, a part-time musician and recording artist himself, said he uses his music industry contacts to help keep costs low.
All concerts are held outdoors at the Gardens, east of Liberty House Restaurant in Liberty State Park. So bring a blanket or chair to sit on. Bug spray wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.
The city encourages residents to use the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail when going out to the park for concerts. The rail line includes a Liberty State Park stop.
People who must drive should be aware that it will cost $5 to park in the Liberty House State Restaurant parking lot.
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.
**SIDEBAR**
Upcoming Summerfest shows include:
Don Carter
Omar-Sound
(Jazz)
Sunday, July 31
5 p.m.
Moonlighters
Omar-Sound
(Big Band)
Sunday, Aug. 7
5 p.m.
NY Exception
(Oldies)
Tuesday, Aug. 9
7 p.m.
Generation of Soul
Omar-Sound
(’80s & ’90s)
Sunday, Aug. 14
5 p.m.
3D
(Latin music)
Tuesday, Aug. 16
7 p.m.