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Two days and nights of the "blues" and a St. Patrick's Day parade to cap things is what visitors will get when they come to Hackettstown March 12-13-14.
The first annual Centenary Mini-Blues Festival not only takes place at Centenary College (6:30-10 p.m. March 12-13), but also there will be free pre-shows at Marley's Gotham Grill on Main Street in the late afternoon (4-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday) and post-show parties at Charlie Brown's on Grand Avenue (10:30-midnight each night) featuring live music. On Sunday, the Town of Hackettstown steps off with its second annual St. Patrick's Day parade at 3:30 p.m.
"This is going to be an incredible weekend of entertainment and fun in Hackettstown," said David Rucki, Executive Director of the Hackettstown Business Improvement District. "We are really looking forward to hosting both of these great events."
Last year's parade drew thousands of spectators and included an array of bands, civic groups and friends of Hackettstown in the parade itself. Among the sponsors of this year's parade is Kevil Chevrolet. Groups interested in participating in this year's parade should contact the HBID office, 908-850-5004.
Jack Tannehill and Mike Esposito are the featured performers at Marley's Gotham Grill, Friday and Saturday respectively, and it's Lori V With Can't Stop Now and RBI providing the music at Charlie Brown's. In addition, original Monkee Peter Tork, who is performing at Centenary on Saturday night with his blues band, Shoe Suede Blues, will be on hand for the post-show party.
Tannehill and Esposito have several CDs between them and have enjoyed success all along the east coast.
Esposito, whose music has been heard in movies and on TV, has always been considered one of the music treasures of Northwest New Jersey - and beyond. His incredible picking on guitar, Dobro, Steel Guitar and even the ukulele, has earned him national recognition. Tannehill is an eclectic combination of Steve Forbert, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, but clearly with his own unique style and voice.
Lori V With Can't Stop Now, which is also opening up the Friday night show at Centenary, offers their special blend of the smokin' blues. The lineups of both Can't Stop Now and RBI are a compilation of some of the most talented players from New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley. Like Can't Stop Now, RBI also offers their own special bluesy blend in their repertoire of tunes.
The Hackettstown Town Council honored the blues at Centenary with a proclamation at its Jan. 25 meeting.
The Mini-Blues Festival, presented by PNC Bank and with major support from The Skylands Music & Arts Alliance and Elite sponsorship from Kevil Chevrolet, is also being sponsored and supported by GBW Insurance, The House of the Good Shepherd Continuing Care Community, Good Impressions, Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Hackettstown Business Improvement District, Residence Inn - Mt. Olive, Mama's Restaurant & Café Baci, and Michael Alper, Esq. Friday night headliners at Centenary are Peter Karp and Sue Foley, who will play together as part of their "He Said, She Said Tour", as well as taking the lead on some of their own tunes for a 3-for-1 like performance. Peter Tork and his band, Shoe Suede Blues, will headline Saturday night. While Tork and his band usually plays a few Monkees hits, its focus in concert is on traditional blues sounds, such as those on their latest CD, "Cambria Hotel." In all, six different acts, three each night, will be performing at Centenary as part of the Mini-Blues Festival, a Centenary Stage Company and Joe Hirsh Production, in association with MoPromo.
Blues tickets for the Centenary performances are available online or by phone. For ticket information and further details about these shows and other Centenary Stage Company events in 2010, go to www.centenarystageco.org or phone 908-979-0900. For special "blues weekend" overnight rates Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights, call the Residence Inn in the International Trade Center, 973-691-1720.
Centenary Stage Company is a not-for-profit theatre dedicated to bringing the performing arts to the Warren, Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon County areas. CSC, an associate member of The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, offers theatre performances with actors that are members of the Actors Equity Association, the professional union for actors. In addition, CSC hosts a heralded jazz series, dance and other music concerts throughout the year, along with several Performing Arts Education programs for youth of the Skylands region.
Performances at Centenary Stage Co. are made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, PennPAT and CSC members and sponsors.
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