Blues and Brews Festival Brings Live Music, Craft Beers and Vintage Motorcycles to Asbury Park

The Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation’s (JSJBF) Summer Series of Festivals is bringing the sweet summer sounds of the blues to Asbury Park, along with craft beer and vintage motorcycles. The festival will be held Saturday, July 23 from 12-8 p.m. in Bradley Park, across from Convention Hall.

Thousands are anticipated to turn out for a day of live performances by talented jazz and blues musicians, food, crafters and sponsor exhibits, a craft beer and wine garden, and activities for the entire family. The festival is rain or shine, free to the public, dog friendly and all ages are welcome to attend.

New this year is a vintage motorcycle show sponsored by the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. To register your own antique motorcycle in the show, email dustyknucklehead@yahoo.com. Motorcycles must be at least 35 years old, insured, and must be in riding condition. There is a $10 registration fee and registration is limited.

This year’s Blues and Brews Festival beer garden will feature Senor Sangria wines and Lagunitas Brewing Company craft beers. The brewing company is known for iconoclastic interpretations of traditional beer styles, and on tap will be Lagunitas Pilsner, Aunt Sally, IPA, and Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’.

The festival will showcase the best jazz and blues artists around, including the Shore Blue Band, Brian Brazil and The Hard Case Blues Band, Lee Delray Band, Incinerators, and Billy Walton Band. The Matt O’Ree Band will headline the festival with their mix of blues and rock’n roll.

Matt and his band have quite the local fan base, including music legends Bruce Springsteen, David Bryan and John Popper, all of whom have volunteered to perform on the band's forthcoming album to be released later this year. Matt even joined rock legends Bon Jovi as their guitarist/backing vocalist on their 2015 stadium tour. For more on the Matt O’Ree Band, click here.

Each year, sponsor donations from the Summer Series of Festivals raise essential funds for the nonprofit Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation’s operational expenses. Sponsors this year include Comcast, Lagunitas, Hunterdon Distributors, and 95.8 FM the WRAT.

“Our award-winning summer festival has been entertaining jazz and blues fans on the Jersey Shore for more than 25 years," said festival organizer Dennis Eschbach. "We attract thousands of visitors of all ages, and in recent years the festival series has introduced new generations to the genre. Thanks to the support of our musicians, volunteers, sponsors and host towns, we're able to keep jazz and blues music alive on the Jersey Shore."

The third of the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Festivals will be held in Long Branch on August 27, 2016 from 12 – 9:30 p.m. at The Great Lawn on the Boardwalk, located on Cooper Ave.

About the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America

The Jersey Shore Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (JSC/AMCA) is in its inaugural year, becoming the 63rd Chapter of the world-wide organization. The Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA ) was founded in 1954 by a group of antique-bike fans in the New England area. In the decades since, the AMCA has grown to become the largest organizations of antique-motorcycle enthusiasts in the world, with 11,000 members in the United States and more than a dozen other countries. The organization is dedicated to the collection, restoration, preservation, use and enjoyment of antique/vintage motorcycles.

About the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation

Founded in 1987, the nonprofit Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation remains dedicated to its efforts to preserve, promote and perpetuate jazz and blues on the Jersey Shore through performance and education. Visit www.jsjbf.org for more information. Connect with the JSJBF on Facebook at Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Festival and Twitter @JSJazzBluesFest. For information on becoming a festival sponsor or crafter, contact Doris Lazur at 732-933-1984 or sponsors@jsjbf.org.