New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


//****************************** ?>

 

The 2026 Happy Together Tour LIVE! at Ocean City Music Pier

By Spotlight Central, Photos by Love Imagery

originally published: 08/13/2026

Fans who cherish classic pop music stream into Ocean City Music Pier in Ocean City, NJ this Monday, August 3, 2026 evening for an outrageous concert of ‘60s and ‘70s hits presented by the stars of the 2026 Happy Together Tour: The Cowsills, The Vogues, Ron Dante, The Fortunes, Gary Puckett, Jason Scheff, The Troggs, and The Association.

Inside the historic Music Pier auditorium the members of the Happy Together Band — bassist Greg Smith, drummer Chris Camilleri, keyboardist Manny Focarazzo, and musical director/guitarist Godfrey Townsend — take the stage for tonight’s performance.

The Cowsills — siblings Susan, Paul, and Bob Cowsill — make their entrance and Paul asks the crowd, “Are you ready to go?” as the group opens tonight’s concert with a bouncy rendition of their 1967 hit, “The Rain, The Park, and Other Things” (aka “The Flower Girl”).

Bob announces, “In 1968, we had a summer hit,” before Paul sings lead on a lively version of “Indian Lake.”

The siblings follow up by singing and playing the TV theme song they recorded in 1969 — the theme from Love, American Style — where, on the instrumental interlude, Paul exclaims, “Without you there’s no show, so give yourself a hand for making this show happen!”




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



The Cowsills end their set with a high-energy rendition of their 1969 smash, “Hair,” which has music lovers singing along before standing and applauding and Paul responds, “We love you!”

The Vogues — Sean Moran, Troy Elich, and Royce Taylor — take the stage and open their set with a tune which was used as the theme for TV’s The Drew Carey Show, the group’s 1966 hit, “5 O’Clock World.”

Music lovers cheer as The Vogues move on to their 1968 million seller, “My Special Angel,” before beautiful vocal harmonies surround Elich’s passionate lead on the group’s 1968 Top Ten hit, “Turn Around, Look at Me.”

Elich exclaims, “Let’s go back to the very beginning!” and The Vogues end their segment with their 1965 hit, “You’re the One,” where the crowd sings along with Elich and Co. on this happy-go-lucky tune which inspires cheers, applause, and a standing ovation.

Ron Dante takes the stage performing The Turtles’ 1967 hit, “She’d Rather Be With Me.”

Dante explains that in addition to being a member of The Turtles, he was also a member of two other ‘60s groups. Sailing into a number he recorded with The Cuff Links, Dante performs his 1969 hit, “Tracy,” where, backed by the band, he sings, “Come with me/Don’t say no/Hold me close/Tracy, never let me go.”

Revealing, “In 1969, I had another group which had the #1 record of the year,” Dante delivers a sparkling performance of his hit with The Archies, “Sugar, Sugar,” which has the audience happily singing along prior to following up with whistles, cheers, and avid applause.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



The Fortunes — drummer Glenn Taylor, guitarist Michael Smitham, bassist Eddie Mooney, and keyboardist Chris Hutchison — take the stage and Mooney announces, “Good evening America! It’s wonderful to be here!” as the British group opens tonight’s set with the 1971 hit, “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again.”

After performing their interpretation of The Walker Brothers’ “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore),” The Fortunes shuffle into their 1965 smash, “You’ve Got Your Troubles,” where concertgoers sing along on the well-known, “You’ve got your troubles, I’ve got mine” refrain.

Mooney invites the crowd to “make noise, clap your hands, and stamp your feet” on a rockin’ rendition of The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” which has audience members moving and grooving at their seats prior to cheering for The Fortunes.

Following a short intermission, Gary Puckett — the original lead singer of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap — makes his entrance in a long green coat and opens with a powerful version of his 1968 hit, “Lady Willpower,” where concertgoers sing along with him on the tune’s “Lady Willpower/It’s now or never” refrain.

“You guys sing really really good, so keep it up please!” declares Puckett as he slips into 1968’s “Over You” and the audience happily joins him in crooning the song’s tuneful “I guess there’s just no getting over you” chorus.

Puckett asks for the house lights to be turned on and he and concertgoers wave to each other as he performs his 1968 hit, “Woman Woman,” where the crowd sings along on the well-known “Woman, woman/Have you got cheating on your mind?” refrain.

Concluding his portion of the show with 1968’s “Young Girl,” Puckett has concertgoers chiming in on the tune’s “Young girl/Get out of my mind” chorus before they stand and cheer and Puckett responds, “God bless you!”

Jason Scheff — long time lead singer for the band Chicago — takes the stage and the audience claps along as Scheff plays bass on the opening strains of Chicago’s 1972 million-seller, “Saturday in the Park.”

After Scheff asks, “How you feeling tonight, Ocean City?” music lovers happily sing along with him on the song’s famous “Saturday in the park/I think it was the Fourth of July” lyric.

“Let’s keep it going and stay in the ‘70s!” exclaims Scheff as he muscles into a dynamic rendition of Chicago’s 1973 hit, “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day”




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



Scheff talks about his father, bassist Jerry Scheff, who played on numerous hits with The Wrecking Crew, before launching into “If You Leave Me Now.” Singing with ease and style, Scheff cries, “If you leave me now/You’ll take away the biggest part of me,” to enthusiastic applause on this 1976 Chicago ballad.

After telling concertgoers about how he sang the next song at the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Scheff leads a high-energy version of Chicago’s 1970 hit, “25 or 6 to 4.”

Concertgoers clap, dance, and sing, “Should I try to do some more?
25 or 6 to 4,” along with Scheff before standing and cheering at the conclusion.

The Troggs — guitarist Jason Feddy and bassist Martin Andrew — take the stage singing with attitude on their 1966 pop-rocker, “With a Girl Like You.”

Andrew announces, “We’re going to do a song that was a big hit in 1967 and again in 1994,” before concertgoers sing, “It’s written on the wind, it’s everywhere I go/So if you really love me, come on and let it show,” along with the duo on the melodic ballad, “Love is All Around.”

Andrew asks, “Are you ready to get wild?” before pouncing into “Wild Thing” where music lovers animatedly sing along with Andrew on the song’s “Wild thing/I think I love you/But I want to know for sure” lyric.

At the conclusion of this 1966 rocker, fans stand and enthusiastically cheer for the British twosome.

The members of The Association — Bruce Pictor, Jim Yester, Paul Holland, and Jules Alexander — take the stage and get concertgoers’ toes tapping to the group’s 1966 hit, “Windy.”

Music lovers hoot and holler and Yester jokes, “I want to thank you for staying up this late to see the show!” before founding member Jules Alexander accompanies The Association on guitar on the group’s 1967 smash, “Never My Love.”

Following up with the 1966 hit, “Cherish,” audience members happily join in singing with the group on the song’s well-known “Cherish is the word I use to describe” lyric before ending with cheers and applause.

Yester responds, “Thank you and God bless you all!” as he reprises his lead vocal on 1966’s “Along Comes Mary” which gets audience members leaping to their feet for The Association.

Ron Dante returns to the stage to suggest, “It wouldn’t be Happy Together without this last song!” and the crowd stands, dances, and sings, “I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but you for all my life,” with Dante on The Turtles’ 1967 chart-topper, “Happy Together.”

At the conclusion, Dante exclaims, “Thanks for coming! We love you all!” before, one at a time, the performers return to the stage to do a snippet of one of their hits, after which everyone joins in on a full cast reprise of “Happy Together” and music lovers stand and cheer while the musicians take a final group bow.

To learn more about the 2026 Happy Together Tour, please go to happytogethertour.com. For info on great upcoming concerts at Ocean City Music Pier — including The Temptations on August 18 and 10,000 Maniacs on August 24 — please go to ocnj.us.

Photos by Love Imagery

Spotlight Central NJ entertainment news,
concert recaps, and interviews

Love Imagery Fine art stage photography
@allyouneedisloveimagery


EVENT PREVIEWS

(PITMAN, NJ) -- The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents An Evening with Luke Null (SNL Alum) on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 7:30pm. The lineup also includes special guest Chip Chantry.
BoDeans - 40th Anniversary Tour comes to Newton Theatre in August

BoDeans - 40th Anniversary Tour comes to Newton Theatre in August

(NEWTON, NJ) -- BoDeans are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their critically acclaimed debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, in 2026. In honor of the anniversary, the band has a special tour planned which comes to The Newton Theatre on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 8:00pm.
Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on August 14th

Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on August 14th

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 7:30pm.

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram to Headline 2026 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Christone "Kingfish" Ingram has been announced as the headliner for the 2026 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival. The free festival will be held on Saturday, August 15th on the Green. The music begins at noon and runs until 10:00pm. The lineup also includes James Langton New York All-Star Big Band, Richard Baratta Gotham City Latin/Jazz Septet, LaBamba and the Hubcaps, and Dylan Triplett.
The Newton Theatre presents Supernova: A Tribute to Oasis on August 15th

The Newton Theatre presents Supernova: A Tribute to Oasis on August 15th

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Supernova: A Tribute to Oasis comes to The Newton Theatre on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:00pm. They are an Oasis tribute band obsessed with recreating the raw energy, intensity and swagger of a real Oasis gig.
Chimera Productions presents "Job" at Paul Robeson Center for the Arts

Chimera Productions presents "Job" at Paul Robeson Center for the Arts

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- New Jersey-based theater company Chimera Productions will present its 17th production, Job by Max Wolf Friedlich, from August 13-15, 2026 at 8:00pm each night. The play, presented in the intimate 60-seat theater inside Princeton's Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, is a psychological thriller that offers a sharp, darkly funny, and unsettling examination of our addiction to work, the internet, the cost of modern life, and what we're willing to sacrifice to belong.

Masquerade Theatre presents "Myths, Legends & Folklore Showcase"

(RIVERSIDE, NJ) -- Masquerade Theatre presents Myths, Legends & Folklore Showcase with performances on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:00pm each night.

Rob Garrett's Neil Diamond: The Tribute comes to Atlantic City

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- The Grand at Golden Nugget Atlantic City presents Rob Garrett's Neil Diamond Tribute on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:00pm. The longtime Las Vegas performer has been called "the best of the best" when it comes to tribute acts.
Showboat Resorts Garden Pier hosts RE-WIND 69

Showboat Resorts Garden Pier hosts RE-WIND 69' Music Festival

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- The inaugural RE-WIND 69' Music Festival at Showboat Resorts Garden Pier takes place August 14-16, 2026 - the anniversary weekend of the original Woodstock 1969 festival. This is a spectacular revival of a moment in American history when music united generations, healed communities, and sparked cultural change. For three unforgettable days, Atlantic City becomes a living time capsule, bringing the spirit of Woodstock and 1969 back to life through world-class recreations of the now legendary musical performances by a dynamic mix of New Jersey musicians along with national and international touring acts.

Passaic County Fair Returns to Garret Mountain August 13–16

(WOODLAND PARK, NJ) -- The Passaic County Board of County Commissioners and Friends of Passaic County Parks, Inc. invite residents and visitors from across the region to the 2026 Passaic County Fair, running Thursday, August 13 through Sunday, August 16 at Garret Mountain Reservation in Paterson/Woodland Park.
 

FEATURED EVENTS



Cimarron 615

Thursday, August 13, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


Niko Moon - Mayor's Summer Concert Series

Thursday, August 13, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ


Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical

Friday, August 14, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, NJ


Totally 2000's Party - Y2K Night

Friday, August 14, 2026 @ 9:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ


The Janis Joplin Experience starring Lisa Polizzi

Friday, August 14, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


 





>