originally published: 06/04/2024
Photo by Donnell Woodson
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Experience an amazing lineup of diverse artists under the stars this summer at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for exciting, FREE concerts during the Horizon Sounds of the City series every Thursday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. The series unites Newark's cultural diversity by bringing together residents, workers, and visitors for unforgettable evenings of great music, food, and fun. This year's lineup includes Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista, Afrobeat singer and artist Kofi Kinaata, New Orleans funk band Galactic f. Jelly Joseph, rap icon KRS-One, and New Orleans bounce singer Big Freedia. Some performances will also showcase a guest poet from Dodge Poetry, as well as local opening talent and NJPAC's student performers.
Everyone is invited to Horizon Sounds of the City, each Thursday from June 27 to August 8, 2024 (except Thursday, July 4th). The entire community comes together for a weekly dance party with a festival atmosphere in Chambers Plaza on the NJPAC grounds.
Attendees can enjoy food and drinks from local vendors, dance to their mainstage headliners, and enjoy a vibrant social atmosphere. The Horizon Sounds of the City concerts at NJPAC's outdoor Chambers Plaza have entertained hundreds of thousands of music lovers from the greater Newark area. By connecting the Greater Newark community to the summer's most energetic vibrant concerts, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon) and NJPAC provide an ideal opportunity to promote the city's rapidly expanding arts and entertainment district and acquaint audiences with local merchants and businesses.
The series kicks off with WBGO-FM DJ Felix Hernandez's "Rhythm Revue Dance Party" on June 28th. This performance is part of Prudential presents North to Shore Festival, New Jersey’s three-city, three-weekend celebration of arts and ideas.
“We are very excited for the new season of the Horizon Sounds of the City summer concert series that brings together the Greater Newark community around the common love of music” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Executive Director Corporate Social Responsibility, Horizon. “This free outdoor concert series highlights the positive impact of the arts to community health – by offering entertainment in an accessible way helps the community become vibrant, connected and uplifted in the way only the arts can achieve.”
The Horizon Sounds of the City concert series at NJPAC is made possible by the generous support of Horizon, RWJBarnabas Health, and Mars Wrigley. Additional support provided by Patrón Tequila, Belvedere Vodka, High West Whiskey, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and Gia Maione Prima Foundation.
Felix Hernandez’s Rhythm Revue Dance Party; Thursday, June 27, 2024 @ 6:00pm–9:00pm; Chambers Plaza; FREE. DJ Felix Hernandez kicks off NJPAC’s Horizon Sounds of the City with his famous Rhythm Revue Dance Party. You know summer is finally here when Horizon Sounds of the City returns to NJPAC! Our free outdoor concert series kicks off with WBGO DJ Felix Hernandez and his famous Rhythm Revue Dance Party. Bring your family and friends and groove to music by James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and tons of classic soul and R&B.
Cyro Baptista: Chama - Thursday, July 11, 2024 @ 6:00pm–9:00pm; Chambers Plaza; FREE. Newark get ready to feel the beat with Cyro Baptista, the Brazilian percussionist extraordinaire. Artists from every genre have collaborated with this versatile artist: Sting, Paul Simon, Yo-Yo Ma, Herbie Hancock, Kathleen Battle, Phish’s Trey Anastasio, Laurie Anderson, Wynton Marsalis, Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso.
Cyro’s musical creation Chama is whimsical and wonderful — a non-stop carnivalesque journey around the world. “Only Cyro Baptista could concoct a mix of music to include Brazilian, Mexican, and Afro-Cuban forms with hints of jazz, funk, and whatever else may fit,” says Glide Magazine. Bring your family and friends and join the fun!
Kofi Kinaata - Thursday, July 18, 2024 @ 6:00pm–9:00pm; Chambers Plaza; FREE. See the popular Ghanaian singer-songwriter and Fante rapper. His instantly likeable songs will pull you in with their mellow rhythms, super-catchy melodies and clever lyrics. Once you experience Kofi Kinaata’s uplifting vibes, you’ll be a fan for life.
Galactic F. Jelly Joseph - Thursday, July 25, 2024 @ 6:00pm–9:00pm; Chambers Plaza; FREE. The ultimate New Orleans funk band gets the crowd pumping with their down-and-dirty fusion of funk, blues, soul and rock. They’ve been pushing musical boundaries since the ’90s at Coachella, Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the iconic music club Tipitina’s. (They played Tipitina’s so many times, they eventually bought the place!) Get in the Mardi Gras spirit with Ben Ellman (saxophone, harmonica), Robert Mercurio (bass), Stanton Moore (drums, percussion), Jeffrey Raines (guitar), Richard Vogal (keyboards) and vocal powerhouse Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph. This performance is graciously sponsored by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation.
KRS-One - Thursday, August 1, 2024 @ 6:00pm–9:00pm; Chambers Plaza; FREE. Rap icon KRS-One brings back the golden age of hip hop at NJPAC’s free outdoor concert series. Called “the greatest live emcee ever” (The Source), his group Boogie Down Productions was the stuff of Bronx legend. He’s responsible for hits like “Sound of da Police,” “MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know,” “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love),” “Hip Hop vs. Rap,” “South Bronx” and “My Philosophy.”
Big Freedia - Thursday, August 8, 2024 @ 6:00pm–9:00pm; Chambers Plaza; FREE. Release your wiggle! Big Freedia — the Queen of New Orleans Bounce — headlines the epic finale of NJPAC’s free outdoor concert series. The larger-than-life hip hop artist is famous for twerk-worthy bangers like “Drop,” “Excuse” and “Explode.” With her unstoppable energy, it’s no surprise she’s a favorite collaborator of Beyoncé, Ciara, Diplo, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne and Lizzo.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey’s Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted 11 million visitors (including almost two million children) since opening its doors in 1997 and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state's oldest and largest health insurer is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving more than 3.5 million members.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is focused on making New Jersey healthier by supporting non-profit organizations that expand access to health care, remove barriers to good health and increase opportunities for everyone to achieve their best health, no matter who they are or where they live. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
COLUMNS
Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Promises" by Dave Vargo
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Promises" from Jersey Shore-based roots rocker Dave Vargo's latest album, "Ghost Towns."
MORE NEWS
