Summer in the City: SummerMusic Concert Series

Photo courtesy of L. Craig Schoonmaker

The 2012 Essex County Free SummerMusic Concert Series brings a diverse group of musicians and entertainers to perform at locations throughout the historic Essex County Park System and provides residents with an evening leisure activity to enjoy the parks. This year's series features two concert and fireworks spectaculars, the South Orange International Blues Festival and Brookdale Park concerts being returned to Friday nights.

Over the course of the summer, performances feature some of the best local and international acts in jazz, rock and roll, big band, reggae and more. The 2012 SummerMusic Concert Series begins Saturday, June 16th with a Gospel Festival in Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park and concludes Sunday, September 9th with Mike Griot Presents the South Orange International Blues Festival in Essex County South Mountain Reservation.

The 2012 concert series schedule is as follows:

- June 16 (2 - 5pm), Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Gospel Festival
- June 23 (12-8pm), Weequahic Park, Newark: House Music Festival (rain date: June 30)
- June 26, 7pm, Veterans Memorial Park, Newark: Gordon James
- June 27, 7 pm, Irvington Park, Irvington: Layonne Holmes Quintet
- June 28, 7 pm, Independence Park, Newark: Jose Chavarria Quintet
- June 29, 7:30 pm, Branch Brook Park, Newark: Concert by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Fireworks Spectacular
- July 2, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Concert by The Duprees and Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Fireworks Spectacular
- July 6, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: The Happenings & Kenny Vance and The Planotones
- July 10, 7 pm, Vailsburg Park, Newark: Bradford Hayes
- July 11, 7 pm, Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Denise Hamilton
- July 13, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: A Tribute to Journey & The Four Tops featuring Separate Ways and Standing in the Shadows
- July 17, 7 pm, Riverbank Park, Newark: Son 9 Quintet
- July 18, 7 pm, West Side Park, Newark: Cross Culture Club
- July 20, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Jazz Under the Stars featuring the Muzzy Mercado Group and Ken Navarro
- July 24, 7 pm, Kip's Castle Park, Montclair/Verona: Broadway Extravaganza
- July 25, 7 pm, Yanticaw Park, Nutley: The Dalton Gang
- July 27, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Springsteen Tribute with the B Street Band and The Infernos
- July 31, 7 pm, Watsessing Park, Bloomfield/East Orange: Carrie Jackson
- August 1, 7 pm, Grover Cleveland Park, Caldwell/Essex Fells: The 70's Project
- August 3, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: The Hitmen
- August 7, 7 pm, Ivy Hill Park, Newark: Jazz by Gradie Stone
- August 8, 7 pm, Weequahic Park, Newark: Lonnie Youngblood
- August 10, 7:30 pm, Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange: The Garden State Concert Band
- August 12, 11am-8pm, Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Spanish Festival
- September 8, 11am-7pm, Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Caribbean Festival
- September 9, 11am-8pm, South Mountain Reservation, West Orange: South Orange International Blues Festival

Concerts are held at accessible sites. Persons who require special accommodations or assistance are asked to call at least two weeks prior to the concert to alert staff as to their needs. Admission to the concerts is free. For more information, please call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs at 973 239-2485.