Upcoming Events Feature the Big Beat Band, Jamaica VYBZ
and Men of Soul: An Evening of Motown

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. invites the public to visit the Essex County Parks System and enjoy the 2025 Essex County Free Summer Music Concert Series. Upcoming events feature the Big Beat Band, Jamaica VYBZ and Men of Soul: An Evening of Motown.

“Our Free Concert Series offers a diverse lineup of performers who will take center stage in venues throughout our historic Essex County Park System. Pack a blanket, enjoy the cool evening breeze and dance to the sounds of classical, rock and roll, jazz, big band, Latin and more,” DiVincenzo said.

Big Beat Band

The Big Beat Band blends the big band sounds reminiscent of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra with other notable influences such as Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Thundercat, and Jill Scott. Tying it all together are the husband-wife duo of Allison and Caleb Rumley. Allison’s profound and versatile vocals and superb songwriting deliver the perfect complement to Caleb’s command of the robust instrument section and his mastery of the big band format. The Big Beat Band will perform as follows:

Date:  Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Essex County Vailsburg Park
           South Orange Avenue
           Newark, NJ

Jamaica VYBZ

Established 2010, Jamaica VYBZ is a five-piece Reggae Band from Brooklyn that blends different genres of Reggae to create their own musical style. They perform songs made popular by artists such as Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaac, Maxi Priest, Buju, Sanchez, Romain Vergo, Jah Cure, Busy signal, Cronixx, Beres Hammond and Tarus Riley. Jamaica VYBZ will perform as follows:

Date:  Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Essex County Riverfront Park
            Raymond Blvd. and Brill Street
            Newark, NJ

Men of Soul: An Evening of Motown

The Men of Soul provides a melodic experience of Soul and R&B music, performing all your favorite Soul & R&B songs that you remember and cherish. Amazing audiences and delighting dancing people everywhere with their charismatic choreography and haunting harmonies, The Men of Soul take you through a music time machine from 1970 into 2010. The Men of Soul perform hits from the Men of Motown (Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, etc.), The Sound of Philadelphia, AKA Philly Soul (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, The O’Jays), ‘80s Soul (Luther Vandross, Micheal Jackson, Frankie Beverly & Maze, etc.), ‘90s R&B (New Edition, Babyface, Brian McKnight, etc.), blue-eyed Soul (Hall & Oates, Micheal McDonald and the Doobie Brothers, etc.) and The Minneapolis Sound (Prince, the Time). The Men of Soul will perform as follows:

Date:  Friday, July 25, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Essex County Brookdale Park
           Watchung Avenue, Bloomfield
           Bellevue Avenue, Bloomfield

The SummerMusic Concert Series is being sponsored by Rose Squared Productions. The series is also made possible, in part, by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State.

Concerts are held at accessible sites. Individuals who require special accommodations or assistance are asked to call at least two weeks prior to the concert to alert staff as to their needs. Admission to the concerts is free. For more information, please call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs at 973‑268-3500 x6231.