RED BANK JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL GETS NEW NAME AND VENUE FOR 2010; MONMOUTH PARK RACETRACK WILL HOST JERSEY SHORE JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

          

RED BANK, NJ – The Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival will have a new name and a new venue when the annual event moves just four miles down the road to Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport on Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6.

Known for many years as River Fest and then as the Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival, one of New Jersey’s oldest and largest jazz and blues events will now be known as the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival, according to its organizers, the not-for-profit Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation.

“We were very fortunate in finding a new host for the festival only 11 minutes away from where it has been traditionally held,” said Dennis Eschbach, chair of the festival and former president of the Foundation. “Repairs to Marine Park have precluded us from holding the festival there, but thanks to Monmouth Park officials, we’ll be able to continue our annual showcase of New Jersey’s best jazz and blues bands in an exciting and easily accessible new venue.”

The Festival, which will run from noon to 8:00 p.m. on both days, will once again showcase talented local bands performing simultaneously on multiple stages capped by appearances of nationally known blues and jazz artists. Food vendors and crafters, traditionally a part of the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival, will be following the event to its new racetrack location.

In addition, the Festival provides an opportunity for the Foundation to showcase some of its younger performers when the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation volunteers direct a youth jazz and blues ensemble that will perform during the two-day festival.

“We couldn’t be happier to have the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival at Monmouth Park this year,” said Bill Knauf, Assistant General Manager at the racetrack. “This pairing of two of Monmouth County’s most recognizable names creates a unique opportunity to showcase world-class Thoroughbred racing alongside some great jazz and blues music.”

Headliners and local bands for 2010 are expected to be announced shortly. Since the Jazz and Blues festival will be held on the grounds, all entrants to the Racetrack will receive admission to the Festival area, in addition to easy access to the acres of parking around the track.

“Jazz and blues enthusiasts will be able to park all day and listen to music without worrying about metered parking or finding street parking,” Eschbach said. “In addition, enthusiasts who want to arrive by train will find easy access from the Monmouth Park Racetrack stop on New Jersey Transit.”

NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line provides north and southbound service from New York’s Penn Station and Hoboken all the way down to Bay Head. The Monmouth Park Racetrack stop is located just steps from the racetrack and the Festival.

For more information about the Festival and the Foundation, go to www.jsjbf.org or call 732-933-1984.

For more information about Monmouth Park Racetrack, call 732-222-5100, or visit online at www.monmouthpark.com.

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