Genre Blues, Attendance 150,000+ | Years active 1987-present Location Red Bank | |
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The Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival is a music festival that takes place the first weekend in June each year in Red Bank, New Jersey. Sited at Marine Park along the Navesink River, the festival has been in operation since 1987. Organized by the non-profit Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation, the festival typically runs on the first weekend in June from Friday late afternoon through Sunday late afternoon, and typically attracts up to some 150,000 people over the three days. It is said to be the largest free event of its kind in the Northeast United States.
History
Music is presented on the main Marina Stage as well as the smaller Harbor Experience or Riverfront Stage. Beginning in the late 2000s, a third stage showcased local and youth artists. Numerous vendors of foods and wares surround the music area, which is a short stroll from Red Bank's Broad Street center. Indeed, the event grew out of, and then somewhat co-existed with, Red Bank Riverfest, which had been in operation since around 1980 with the purpose of showcasing the efforts of local restaurants while featuring some music as well.
In 2007, the festival was sponsored by Washington Mutual; area smooth jazz radio station CD 101.9 always had a presence as well. In 2008, the festival lacked a title sponsor for the first time since 2003; organizers said the festival's existence was in financial jeopardy for 2009. The festival did go forward in 2009 despite the ongoing late 2000s recession and even further diminished sponsorship, with organizers stressing the need for attendees to contribute and some second stage performers foregoing being paid. Due to construction in Marine Park, the 2010 festival relocated inland to Monmouth Park under the name Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival. For 2011, the Red Bank Riverfest reclaimed its old spot in the first weekend of June in the park, featuring local, often rock-oriented bands, while the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival scheduled itself for single days each in Middletown, Long Branch, and Asbury Park across July, August, and September.
Typical headlining acts for the Festival have included John Pizzarelli (2010), Houston Person (2009), Big Bill Morganfield (2007), Eddie Palmieri (2005), Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers (2002), and Bernie Worrell and the Woo Warriers (1999).