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Health & Fitness

2013 FREE SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PARK

The annual Free Concerts in the Park, presented by the Village of South Orange, the Baird and South Orange Performing Arts Center, is back for its 21st anniversary with a new and exciting line-up for the 2013 summer season. Every Wednesday night, beginning July 10 until August 7, Free Concerts in the Park will present some of today’s top performers in jazz, reggae, pop, rock and roll, and more. Local residents are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to come relax, dance, eat, and enjoy great music with family and friends at Flood’s Hill in South Orange. The annual concert series is.  Below is the full performer line-up and descriptions:

Wednesday, July 10
STILETTO: THE SONGS OF BILLY JOEL & ELTON JOHN

Featuring Movin’ Out’s ‘Piano Man’ Matthew Friedman    

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Matthew Friedman, formerly "The Piano Man" for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd National Tours of Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's Tony-Award-winning musical, Movin' Out, performs with his band, Stiletto, comprised of some of Broadway's finest musicians. Together they bring you the music of two of rock and roll's iconic figures—Billy Joel and Elton John. Come experience and enjoy some of Billy and Elton's greatest hits, as well as a few rarities and surprises.


Wednesday, July 17
KIWI

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Reggae Rhythms and Tropicália-Inspired Melodies

Rooted in reggae rhythms and tropicália-inspired melodies, Jersey City-based Kiwi dynamically blends jazz flourishes and soulful grooves into a uniquely uplifting sound. Kiwi’s members includes Alex Tea (vocals, guitar), Ramsey Norman (drums), Matt Quinones (bass), Ben Guadalupe (percussion), Dave Stolarz (keys), Barami Waspe (tenor sax), Curtis Taylor (trumpet), and Rob Edwards (trombone)

After nearly a decade of entertaining audiences around the Northeastern U.S. and Brazil, Kiwi has hit their stride with a new lineup featuring some of the New York City area’s finest musicians. The band has also been invited to share the stage with veteran reggae/ska acts including the Pietasters and John Brown’s Body.

In addition to over a hundred club and dancehall performances, Kiwi has also performed at a variety of music festivals and community events in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. They are also proud to be an active and vibrant presence in their home base, the Jersey City arts scene. In addition to a burgeoning American following, Kiwi also has a growing fan base in Brazil, where they have embarked on two short tours.


Wednesday, July 24
CHERYL ‘PEPSII’ RILEY

R&B/Soul

In a business filled with here-today-and-gone-tomorrow artists, few have maintained the consistency of Cheryl Pepsii Riley. Cheryl, affectionately called “Pepsii” by her friends, exploded onto the music scene in 1988 with her debut album, Me, Myself, and I. From that album, Cheryl recorded her #1 hit “Thanks for My Child,” a song considered an anthem of hope and courage by many women.

Cheryl has also acted in numerous theater productions, including Tyler Perry's Madea's Class Reunion, Madea Goes To Jail, Why Did I Get Married, The Marriage Counselor, Madea's Big Happy Family, and Laugh To Keep From Crying.  Her voice appears on several of the songs in the hit movie and soundtrack Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and you will also recognize Cheryl as the singing voice of Taraji Henson in Tyler Perry’s critically acclaimed I Can Do Bad All by Myself.

In 2006, Cheryl released her first solo recording in 14 years, Let Me Be Me.  The album encompasses a little bit of funk, jazz, rock, blues, gospel, a little love; all filled to capacity with a lot of soul! This humble and spiritual woman continues to perfect her craft and showcase her gifts with a powerful message.

Wednesday, July 31
MICHAEL HILL’S BLUES MOB

Original New York Style Blues

Michael Hill’s Blue Mob has made a name for themselves in the world of Blues.  Through their lyrics, the group demonstrates the passion, desire for freedom, humor and justice that are fundamental to the Blues. The band transmits these lyrics through Blues that is seasoned with rock, R&B, funk and more. Members include Bill McClellan on drums, Mike Griot on bass, David Barnes on harmonica and Michael Hill on guitar and vocals.

Their 1994 debut album, Bloodlines, was awarded Best Debut Album of the Year by Living Blues. Since then, the Michael Hill’s Blues Mob has obtained critical acclaim from audiences worldwide. In 2011, Michael Hill was inducted in the New York Blues Hall of Fame as a Master Blues Artist. Last August, the group released Goddesses & Gold Redux and this past September,  they performed at the South Orange Blues Festival.

Wednesday, August 7
ROCK THE HILL

Featuring local garage bands


As part of the Rock the House series, Rock the Hill has been delighting audiences for three years with its eclectic mix of local and visiting garage bands. Known for putting on honest-to-goodness rock shows, Rock the House takes Flood’s Hill to close out the 2013 Concerts in the Park series.

Artists and schedules are subject to change

The 2013 Free Concerts in the Park series is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Flood’s Hill is located in Meadowlands Park, 70 North Ridgewood Rd, South Orange. In case of rain, re-location will take place at the South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way in South Orange.

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