Sixth Annual Colts Neck Rockfest’s Lineup Offered Music, Vendors & Small-Town Company

The sixth annual Colts Neck Rockfest was held on Saturday, September 14, at Bucks Mill Park in Colts Neck.  Music lovers from throughout the area donned Rockfest paraphernalia and gathered around a warm bon fire to enjoy a tailgate atmosphere, great local bands and small-town company on a brisk autumn day.

This year’s music and arts festival was hugely successful, attracting a crowd of approximately 300 people. However, according to Rockfest founder and Moroccan Sheepherders band member Steve Warendorf, impressive turnouts such as this have not always been the norm, with the event originating from humble beginnings. “It started out as a little picnic. We had two bands [one of which being the Moroccan Sheepherders] and just had our friends and family join us,” said Warendorf. “We probably had 30 people.”

Thanks to the support of Bucks Mill Park, a makeshift stage donation in the form of a flatbed truck from Sakoutis Brothers Disposal, Inc. and the assistance of Joe Bongiovi, Rob DiCarolis, Larry Duffy, Jack Lind, Glenn Taglieri and Michelle Warendorf, Rockfest has since grown from a simple backyard gig to the community-wide event it is today.

Although the musical stylings of 3-Chord Symphony, Alex English, Bad Neighbors, Courtney McManus, Dave McCarthy, First to Friday, Moroccan Sheepherders, Pepperwine, Random Test, Red and the Roosters, Red Bank Blues Band, SMA Project, Strumberry Pie, The Billies, The Working Men, Two River Band, Xol Azul and Woodfish were the certainly the day’s main attraction, numerous local vendors—such as Breakthrough Wellness Center, Brookie’s Baby Berry Hats, Carolyn Roche Designs, Stella and Dot and a T-shirt airbrushing tent—provided equally enjoyable entertainment in between sets.

Despite the vast popularity of Colts Neck Rockfest and the seemingly endless amount of possibilities for its future expansion, Warendorf insists that his goal is to keep it grounded in the community and simply about the music. “We don’t want it to be a full-blown Woodstock-type of festival where you have thousands of people,” said Warendorf. “The bands have fun, the people enjoy the music—they look forward to it all year long. If everyone can come out here for music, a drink and a little food, it’s all good.”