(WALL, NJ) -- Lakehouse Music Academy will host its flagship end-of-semester concert series, The Big Gig, on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, 2026 at Bakes Brewing. The two-day community event features a multigenerational roster of hundreds of student musicians performing live, fully rehearsed rock and pop sets. Shows begin each day at 10:00am.
This weekend Lakehouse Music Academy is hosting the event at Bakes Brewing Co. (1718 Highway 71 in Wall, New Jersey). Performances will run on two stages simultaneously, one indoors and one outdoors. The dual-stage configuration enables Lakehouse to condense what was historically up to a five-day performance schedule into a single, high-energy weekend showcase.
"We'll have our full crew out, running two stages and bouncing back and forth," said Paul Ritchie, Music Director at Lakehouse Music Academy. "Running two stages simultaneously allows us to get everything done in one weekend while creating an awesome environment for the performers and audience."
What makes Lakehouse Music Academy's performance model unique? The Big Gig serves as the culmination of 18 weeks of intensive group rehearsal and private study for students across Lakehouse's downtown Asbury Park and Red Bank campuses.
Performer ages range from 3 to 75 years old, spanning programs including Cadets (ages 3–6), Get Started (ages 6–10), Core (ages 11–17) and Night Sessions (adults 18+).
Rather than traditional recitals, Lakehouse places students into active bands led by experienced instructor-mentors. Over three-quarters of the academy's approximately 700 students participate in group ensembles, learning democratic decision-making, setlist negotiation and multi-instrumental skills.
"When you put these kids in this situation, they go beyond private lessons," said Ritchie, a veteran producer, engineer, and guitarist for acclaimed Central Jersey-native rock band The Parlor Mob. "In a band scenario, they're being held accountable by their instructors and fellow bandmates. They learn how to problem-solve, share leadership, build face-to-face community, and form friendships with peers from other towns they wouldn't normally meet."
Admission to The Big Gig is completely free, and no tickets or advance reservations are required.
"It's a community event," Ritchie explained. "Everyone performing is an academy student, and we want their friends, family, and neighbors to come out and see all the hard work they've put in over the semester. We want anybody who wants to attend to be able to enjoy the music for free."
Lakehouse Music Academy is a progressive music school serving students of all ages across Monmouth County, N.J., with campuses at 619 Lake Ave. in Asbury Park and 51 Monmouth St. in Red Bank. Lakehouse provides private instrumental instruction, band rehearsals, songwriting, recording, and music production. Academy Alumni have gone on to attend leading universities such as Princeton and Columbia, as well as music institutions, including Berklee College of Music, NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, and the Frost School of Music.
Lakehouse Music Academy's Asbury Park location is located under the same roof as Lakehouse Recording Studios, a world-class facility defined by its traditional analog effects (vintage Neve 8024 and API 2488 consoles) and is fully equipped with the latest recording technologies, plugins, DAWs and workflows. Rounding out the facility is a boutique audio/ADR room, perfect for voiceover, dialogue replacement, and intimate recording sessions.
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