(NEWARK, NJ) -- Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) presents the official 15th Anniversary of its long-running and highly attended Lincoln Park Music Festival, which will return to its outdoor home in Lincoln Park over multiple dates in July and August 2022.  Lincoln Park Music Festival has evolved over the past 15 years into a full umbrella season of music, arts, culture and wellness from April to October annually.

Kicking off the festival’s crystal anniversary year is world renown saxophonist Mike Phillips at the acclaimed Jazzy Soul Series, taking place on Thursday, May 12th at 6:00pm at the revitalized Medallion Restaurant at Robert Treat Hotel, 50 Park Place, downtown Newark.  Celebrating the release of his forthcoming album, Newark will be the exclusive tour stop in New Jersey on Mike Phillips’ Summer 2022 tour. Click here to register for the event.

Mike is the first musician signed by Michael Jordan to the Nike Jordan Brand, home of the Air Jordan, and is the only musician in the world to have recorded and toured with the legendary “Big Three” of American soul and pop music: Michael Jackson, Prince, and Stevie Wonder, not only as a member of the band, but as a featured soloist.  This Thursday, Mike Phillips will perform his new song “City Lights” and a few tracks from the hit albums Uncommon Denominator (2005); M.P.3. (2010); Pulling Off The Covers (2020); and his debut smash You Have Reached Mike Phillips (2002), which celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year.  Opening the show will be Newark’s amazing homegrown musician/singer/songwriter JANÉ and poet/spoken word artist The Euphony.

“Our flagship arts and culture initiative – the Lincoln Park Music Festival – has weathered many storms from the economic recession of 2008-09 to the national tragedy of 9/11 and now a global pandemic” states Anthony Smith, Executive Director.  “Through it all, our annual Lincoln Park Music Festival has been a constant healing space for attendees and performers alike through dance, expression, food and cultural exchange.  For small businesses, our festival is an economic engine for their local brick & mortar establishments; a launch pad for new ventures; and place to sells hand crafted wares.  After two abbreviated years, to return as a full season and outdoor festival in the park demonstrates Newark’s resilience and some semblance of normalcy.  It will be a spirit filled experience for all that attend.”

The annual Lincoln Park Music Festival (LPMF) is the largest music experience rooted in traditions of the African American and Afro Caribbean diaspora in the tri-state region.  LPMF has expanded into an audience of 50,000-60,000 international attendees that comes together, over two weekends, to experience multiple genres of music including Gospel, Jazz, House, Hip-Hop, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Kompa and of the Latinx/Hispanic diaspora, as well as film, tech and music business education. 

The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Inc. (LPCCD) is a non-profit organization actively engaged in the practice of economic development through Creative Placemaking. Its mission to plan, design and develop a comprehensive arts and cultural district in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of downtown Newark.  LPCCD’s main arts & culture programs are the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival, Lincoln Park Music Speaks citywide humanities initiative, the Lincoln Park Jazzy Soul music series, the Lincoln Park Sustainable Living Community Podcast and the public art initiative Lincoln Park Gallery Without Walls.