The Band of Two Rivers, Pam McCoy Rock the Dock

The third-annual Sounds at Sunset concert series kicked off on Friday, April 29 on the refurbished Fair Haven Dock. Over 50 audience members enjoyed the tunes of locals The Band of Two Rivers and Pam McCoy as the sky burst into beautiful orange and purple over the river.

Concert opener Pam McCoy plays regularly throughout the shore area with her band Familiar Faces. They are regulars at McLoones, the Driftwood and Windansea. McCoy is also involved with the Music for Aardvarks program through Fair Haven Recreation. Every Wednesday, McCoy leads the children of Fair Haven in delightful song and dance.

McCoy opened with “Bubbly” by Colbie Callait, a mellow song with a summery vibe to help audience members disregard the chilly spring breeze coming off the river. McCoy also played “Summer Fly” by Cheryl Wheeler and Linda Ronstadt’s “Different Drum” to strong applause before giving the stage over to The Band of the Two Rivers.

The Band of the Two Rivers formed in 1997 when director Donald Swinchoski and his wife Carol moved to New Jersey from Massachusetts. They organized the ensemble to provide a concert band experience for local musicians of all ages – their youngest current member is 12 years old. The Band of the Two Rivers has performed at tree lightings, town concerts and senior citizen centers. They have also kicked off the Sounds at Sunset concert series for the past three years with their symphonic music.

The band started their set with the National Anthem. As the audience rose to honor our great country, the sun magically peeked out from behind the clouds as if to join in the salute. Swinchoski then led his company through their resounding repertoire, which included “El Capitan” by John Philip Sousa, “A Festival Prelude” by Alfred Reed and Robert Sheldon’s “Appalachian Morning,” among others.

Regarding Reed’s composition, Swinchoski praised its trumpet fanfare and woodwind flourishes saying, “I remember playing this in high school and love to share it with people to this day.”

Red Bank resident Elaine Soviero worked at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School where she met Swinchoski. Her husband, Vinnie Soviero, played clarinet in high school. She introduced the two, and Soviero joined the Band of the Two Rivers nearly eight years ago.

“The band is fantastic,” said Soviero. “I love that they play a variety of musical styles.”

Janice Connahan from Sayreville was visiting the Fair Haven area, spotted the dock gathering and decided to check it out. “I think this is a great idea,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful location.”

Fair Haven Parks and Recreation Director Charlie Hoffmann echoed Connahan’s remarks. “Locals seem to enjoy the cornucopia of great sounds and the social interaction of the neighbors accompanied by such a serene and remarkable setting,” he said.

The 2011 concert series is fully funded by sponsors such as Synergy Hot Yoga, Gear Loft, Ferguson Dental Care and numerous other generous companies and individuals.

“We are so grateful that our neighborhood businesses have such a dedication to both leisure services and the arts,” said Hoffmann.

This is the first year that the Sounds at Sunset concert series features all local Rumson-Fair Haven area bands. The remaining event headliners are:

May 6th - Salva Vidas

June 4th - River Road

July 8th - Late for Lunch

August 6th - Big Poppa Belle

Warm-up artists begin at 6:30pm, and main performers take the stage at 7:00pm. All concerts are complimentary and held on the Fair Haven Dock at the end of Fair Haven Road. For more information, call Fair Haven Parks and Recreation at 732-747-0241.