The Band 'Train' to Headline Union County MusicFest

The band Train, which performed at the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July, will headline the 13th Annual Union County MusicFest's Saturday lineup Sept. 11. The group's latest single, "Hey, Soul Sister," reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after its release in Aug. 2009, and it has remained in the top 20 for the past 40 weeks.

"We are very excited to welcome Train and many other outstanding artists to MusicFest this year, which caps off a full season of free outdoor concerts," said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. "Our core recreation events are especially important to Union County residents when times are tough and vacation budgets evaporate, and I'm proud of the many sponsors and residents who continue to support MusicFest along with all of our free public programs."

Train is a double-platinum, Grammy Award winning band. "Hey, Soul Sister" included on the album "Save Me, San Francisco," was simply the latest in a string of rock, blues and folk-infused pop hits, including "Meet Virginia" (1998), "Drops of Jupiter" (2001) and "Calling All Angels" (2003).

MusicFest is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11, and Sunday, Sept. 12, at Union County's Oak Ridge Park in Clark. The event features two full days of free music and many other attractions, including the Union County Fair at MusicFest, a five-day carnival that starts Wednesday, Sept. 8.

"MusicFest is our updated, re-energized version of the classic American county fair," Sullivan said in the press release. "We go with tradition by bringing people together to enjoy new sights and sounds, and we provide an important economic boost to many local businesses that serve tens of thousands of MusicFest visitors, both onsite and off."

About 70,000 fans visited MusicFest last year, the release said.

Individuals can help support the concert festival by becoming "Friends of MusicFest." A limited number of individual sponsorships are available for $150 per person for one day, or $250 for the weekend.

In return for their support, individual sponsors receive access to an exclusive VIP stage-viewing area and a tent-covered comfort lounge that includes rest rooms, complimentary afternoon barbeque and drinks, unlimited carnival rides and VIP onsite parking. Friends of MusicFest is administered by the Union County Performing Arts Center, a MusicFest partner organization.  For more details visit www.ucpac.org.

Along with Train, the Saturday lineup includes previously announced performers The Bravery, Soul Asylum, OK Go, Jesse Malin and The St. Marks Social, Mike Peters & Friends, Willie Nile and 61 North.

Spoon will headline the Sunday slate, joined by The Zombies, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Suzanne Vega, the Nils Lofgren Acoustic Duo and Nicole Atkins.

Pop sensation Vita Chambers will perform a free concert at The County Fair at MusicFest on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The show is part of Family Day, when fairgoers can purchase a value-priced all-day wristband for the amusement rides.

Mike Peters joins his band mates in the Alarm to play a set at The Crossroads in Garwood at the after-party following MusicFest on Saturday night. Tickets for this event are on sale at The Crossroads, online at www.xxroads.com, or by phone at800-594-TIXX.

For more information on these and many other MusicFest events and attractions, visit the Union County MusicFest website atwww.ucmusicfest.com:

• The Rock On! Walkathon and 5k Rock 'n' Run will help raise funds to fight cancer.  Proceeds go to the international Love, Hope, Strength Foundation and The Valerie Fund in New Jersey.

• The MusicFest Phantasmagorial: A Sideshow Cavalcade of the Odd will delight audiences with a display of the weird and wacky suitable for "PG" audiences and up. A modest admission is charged.

• The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County's Childhood Obesity Awareness Programs will visit MusicFest.  The Extension will also offer up cooking demonstrations and MusicFest's first ever Harvest Contest featuring such categories as the largest tomato and the funniest looking vegetable (for contest information contact the Extension, 908-654-9854).

• The Kids Kingdom Travelling Jubilee provides a special area packed with many free and affordably priced activities for youngsters and free non-stop performances on a children's stage.

• The Hell on Wheels BMX stunt bikers will return to MusicFest to thrill and entertain with free shows of their daredevil skills on Saturday and Sunday.

• Gamin' Ride brings its fully outfitted mobile video game lounge and exciting laser maze, which lets you race against time versus the same optical opponent featured in hit movies like "Mission: Impossible."
• The Fusion Arts and Music Collaboration, a multisensory cultural arts showcase where art, dance, film, and fashion converge, will present a display featuring Union County artists.

To listen to the single "Hey, Soul Sister," as well as Train's other hits, click here.