Boz Scaggs Cancels; Burton Cummings To Headline Freedom Fest

Burton Cummings, the original lead singer and songwriter of The Guess Who, will headline this year’s Camden County Freedom Festival on the Waterfront, county officials announced Thursday morning.

Cummings will replace Boz Scaggs at the event, after Scaggs announced he wouldn’t be touring in July due to medical reasons.

“We’re extremely excited that Burton Cummings will be performing this year, and are incredibly thankful to his team for coordinating with us on such short notice,” Freeholder Ed McDonnell, liaison to the Camden County Department of Events and Community Outreach, said. “This is going to be another incredible Freedom Festival, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone out along the Waterfront.”

Cummings is best known for his hits “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “No Time,” “American Woman,” “Share the Land” and “Hang on to Your Life.” He is in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
With more than 40 years of musical success, Cummings’s most recent album, 2008’s “Above the Ground,” was hailed as his best work in decades.

“Our commitment is to give our guests an unforgettable show where they can celebrate together and come together as a community,” McDonnell said. “With the addition of Burton Cummings to this year’s lineup, we are expecting another fantastic year of family entertainment on the Fourth of July.”

The Independence Day festivities kick-off at 5 p.m. with a salute to America and Veterans presented by the Tri-County Symphonic Band. At 6:30 p.m., the fabulous UCC Royal Brass Band will take the stage.

Cummings will take the stage at 8 p.m., with a fireworks display over the Delaware River scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

Wiggins Waterfront Park is located at Riverside Drive and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard in Camden. The event is made possible through a joint partnership between the Camden County Freeholder Board, City of Camden, Coopers Ferry Partnership, City of Camden Parking Authority, WMGK 102.9FM and Serpico Pyrotechnics, LLC.