New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Kansas To Be Featured At 2022 New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning

originally published: 01/17/2022

(READINGTON, NJ) -- America’s preeminent progressive rock band Kansas has been announced as the first featured concert headliner at the 39th annual New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning. The legendary band ("Carry On Wayward Son," "Dust in the Wind," "Point of Know Return") will perform Sunday, July 31, at 3:30pm. in association with Q104.3 at the 39th annual festival at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ.

 Attracting upwards of 165,000 people and the biggest names in music including Grammy Award winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, and top-selling artists, it is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America.

 Kansas launched to stardom with their platinum album Leftoverture and on the strength of the album's smash hit "Carry On Wayward Son," which continues to be one of the top five most played songs on classic rock radio. They’ve remained a staple of classic rock radio for nearly five decades with a catalogue of 16 studio albums, five live albums, and eight gold albums.

 They followed with "Point of Know Return," which featured both the title song and the monster hit "Dust in the Wind." Kansas established themselves as a fixture on the Billboard charts for more than 200 weeks throughout the '70s and '80s with Point of Know Return becoming the band’s greatest selling studio album.

 Their popularity has continued through generations of listeners. "Carry On Wayward Son" became the most-played song of the year, reaching sextuple-platinum status with more than six million copies sold, and the album had three Billboard Hot 100 singles.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



They reached a whole new audience through their presence on the popular video games Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and Grand Theft Auto; on television shows such as "Supernatural," "South Park," and “The Office;” and films including "Anchorman."

Kansas continues to resonate with large and enthusiastic audiences around the world. Recent releases including The Absence of Presence and Point of Know Return Live & Beyond have soared high on the Billboard album charts.

 

The band is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, bassist/vocalist Billy Greer, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale, keyboardist/vocalist Tom Brislin (a New Jersey native), and original guitarist Richard Williams.

 “We’re thrilled to have Kansas ‘carry on’ with us,” said Festival Executive Producer Howard Freeman. "One of the first questions we're asked is 'who are your concerts this year?' We're proud that our concert series is so popular. Kansas has the proven ability to connect with audiences of all ages and we're pleased to announce them as our first major headliner this year."

The three-day New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning, July 29-30-31, features twice-a-day mass ascensions of up to 100 sport and special shaped hot air balloons, its hugely popular concert series, family entertainment and attractions. Tickets for Kansas are on sale now at www.balloonfestival.com and include Blue Sky Club VIP packages, Reserved Concert Seats, Concert Chalets, as well as general admission lawn seating.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


John

John Lee & Friends

Thursday, July 03, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Blues

Blues People with Special Guest: Jeff Levine

Saturday, July 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Frisson

Frisson Winds

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Three

Three American Troubadours: A Tribute to James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Jazz

Jazz Concert at Trenton City Museum will Feature the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience

(TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum will present a free jazz concert Friday, July 18, 2025 at the museum's Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park. Featuring world-renowned vibraphonist Joe Baione, the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience is the first group to perform in a series of jazz events leading up to the museum's 2026 TRENTON MAKES JAZZ exhibition, in collaboration with the City of Trenton.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Tonight's the Night - a tribute to Rod Stewart

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Tonight's the Night - a tribute band that celebrates the music of Rod Stewart - will perform at The Newton Theatre on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:00pm.



Hoboken's

Hoboken's Sinatra Park to Host Concert by Freedy Johnson and Karyn Kuhl and the Gang

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Local events organizer, Geri Fallo, who retired last year, is inviting you to celebrate with her, as she embraces new and exciting endeavors. Come enjoy a free evening of music in Hoboken's Sinatra Park (525 Sinatra Drive) on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The evening is presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, The Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs, and Geri Fallo. The event is free, and music starts at 6:30pm. Come early for the best seating.



An

An Interview with Dan Kurtz of The New Deal

Formed in 1999, Toronto, Canada based trio The New Deal, is a pioneer in jam-based electronic music. The group was founded by remaining members Dan Kurtz (bass) and Jamie Shields (keys), along with Darren Shearer (drums) who left tND in 2011. Since its inception, tND has remained committed to its improvisational roots and has served as a model for other jamtronica bands bridging the gap between multiple music genres as well as the border between Canada and the United States.



Two

Two NJ Jazz Musicians Will Play with The Jazz Ambassadors in Morristown

Pianist Anthony Pocetti grew up in Hamilton, NJ, studying piano, "doing sort of traditional piano lessons. I have an uncle who was always encouraging me to get into the jazz thing. He gave me the (Miles Davis) Kind of Blue CD, and he knew that the jazz pianist Jim Ridl was living in Hamilton."