Brick Townships

Summer Fest
Listeners’ favorites
invited back for 10th
Anniversary Reunion
BY KARL VILACOBA
Staff Writer

July 1 The Capris, 7 p.m. The Duprees, 8:30 p.m. Fireworks follow the show July 15 The Infernos, 7 p.m. The Brooklyn Reunion Show, featuring Emil Stucchio & the Classics, the Passions, and the Mystics, 8:30 p.m. July 29 Kenny Vance & the Planatones, 7 p.m. Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12 Larry Chance & The Earls, 7 p.m. The Happenings featuring Bob Miranda, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 26 The Fabulous Grease Band, 7 p.m. Fireworks follow the show

Ask, and you shall receive. Brick Township looked to the fans when selecting its 2004 SummerFest Concert Series lineup, circulating questionnaires at last year’s events that asked visitors to choose their favorite past performers. The results helped determine the SummerFest 10th Anniversary Reunion, a virtual greatest hits lineup of years one through nine.

A few bands that rated high on the fans’ poll could not be booked this year because of scheduling issues, fiscal constraints and demanding contract riders, according to SummerFest coordinator Alan Cohen. However, the two leading vote-getters — the Duprees and Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge — will both make their returns to Brick this summer.

Also back by popular demand are the Capris, the Infernos, Kenny Vance & the Planatones, Larry Chance & the Earls, The Happenings, the Fabulous Grease Band and a special "Brooklyn Reunion" show, featuring Emil Stucchio & the Classics, the Passions and the Mystics.

"It is hard to believe that SummerFest is 10 years old," Mayor Joseph Scarpelli said. "When we first thought of holding concerts at Windward Beach Park, we had no idea we would be starting a tradition that is being mimicked throughout the Jersey Shore."

The Duprees

SummerFest kicks off July 1 with a twin-bill show featuring the Capris at
7 p.m. and the Duprees at 8:30 p.m. As is the tradition for opening night, the concert will be followed by a fireworks display.

The free outdoor shows will be held Thursday nights at Windward Beach Park, Princeton Avenue. Free shuttle buses will run to the park from 5-8 p.m., with return trips beginning at 9 p.m. Bus stops are located at Brick Township High School, Drum Point Elementary School, Midstreams Elementary School, Brick Memorial High School, Veterans Memorial Middle School and at the former Foodtown parking lot on Route 70. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult to ride.

"We encourage those planning to attend this year’s concerts to use the shuttle bus service. While Windward Beach is capable of holding thousands of spectators, parking for cars is limited to about 500 cars and fills quickly on Thursday nights," Scarpelli said.

One new feature this year will be the "SummerFest Idol" contest, a running competition that will pit two a cappella groups against each other before every show. The winners will square off before the Aug. 26 concert for a chance to be an opening act in SummerFest 2005.

Kenny Simmons of the Infernos

"There will be a Simon," Cohen said, referring to acerbic judge Simon Cowell from the "American Idol" television show on which the contest is based.

Cohen said judges from WJRZ Oldies 100, back for a third year as the official radio station of SummerFest, will screen tapes of participants, but the crowd’s reaction will ultimately determine the winners. Anyone interested in competing can contact Cohen at (732) 262-1006.

This year’s SummerFest Concert Series schedule was cut from nine to five nights, but features only three fewer bands than last year. The organizers packed 11 bands into the five-night schedule, while 14 bands were booked over nine nights in 2003.

While forming the municipal budget in March, the Township Council directed the number of SummerFest events scaled back from every Thursday to alternate weeks.

Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge

"What we’re doing this year is trying to make it more efficient by going from nine to five. I think we’ll be able to better balance doing government work with entertainment work," council President Stephen Acropolis said. "Now on those off days, those government employees will be able to do government work."

Scarpelli and members of his administration have maintained that corporate sponsorships, not tax dollars, pay for the events, but some members of the Republican majority council contended that didn’t include the cost of township resources, like public works manpower, transportation and police, used to organize the event.

The Capris