By Mary Ann Bourbeau
MIDDLETOWN – Dozens of fine artists, artisans and musicians will descend on Thompson Park in the Lincroft section of town Saturday, May 4 for the Creative Arts & Music Festival.
Now in its fifth year, the festival will feature 32 juried artists inside the property’s two barns, selling their wares and performing demonstrations of their crafts, while live music is performed on several different stages.
“It’s a family-friendly event and a nice celebration of the arts,” said Christina Carlson, recreation program specialist for the Monmouth County Park System.
Among the dozens of local artisans who will participate are Carolyn Roche Designs (jewelry), Joyce Nokes (ceramics), Frank Parisi (photography), Kate Eggleston (textile/sculpture), Marie Maber (painting/fine arts), Dee Moye Hoban (paper/mixed media), Ken Koenig (metal work), William Bunting (fine art/classic car painting) and B&C Ceramics.
“This festival is a great way to have a little snippet of every art form,” said Carlson. “We tried to get as many mediums as possible.”
The artist workshops include pysanky egg decorating, plein air painting, traditional hooking artists, an egg tempera painting workshop and a wood turning demonstration.
Courtesy MCPS
There will be several hands-on activities for adults and children, including a pottery wheel demonstration and a 10-foot-by-6-foot, two-sided panel for visitors to create a community mural with acrylic paints. It will be an impressionistic theme, adding to a portrait of Vincent van Gogh’s flowers, said Carlson.
The Activity Barn will present music by Alan Gowa, Andy Feldman, Kevin J. Allen, This Old House Band, Joseph Alton Miller and Gary Nokes. Musicians on a Mission will perform in the Theatre Barn. The Outdoor Music Tent will feature the Fairview Fix Youth Choral, Band of Two Rivers, Grace and Glitter Belly Dance, Dark City Strings and Andy B. AND SoulFolk.
SoulFolk is comprised of area musicians Andy Bernstein, Gary Ambrosy, Paul Daloia, Bill Homeyer and Greg Stier. Bernstein has fronted many local bands, including the New Orleans blues and funk band the VooDUDES, and has just released SoulFolk’s second CD, “Look What the Cat Dragged In.”
“It’s traditional-sounding roots music with an Americana roadhouse vibe,” he said. “I wanted to do an album that has the sound of putting quarters into an old jukebox.”
Bernstein cites Creedence Clearwater Revival, Los Lobos, Rockpile and Georgia Satellites as influences in his songwriting, aiming for an eclectic mix of rockabilly, country, blues and garage rock. Some songs will get the audience up and dancing, while others will have them listening to lyrics, such as the Jersey-centric song, “Incandescent Light Bulb Blues.” “It’s about the old Edison monument in Menlo Park, how it was run down and falling apart,” he said. “Middlesex County finally restored this site where the phonograph and movie camera were invented, just when they stopped making incandescent light bulbs in America. I thought it was ironic.”
Andy B.AND SoulFolk have played numerous festivals, including Light of Day WinterFest, Bourbon Street Music Festival and Hub City Music Festival. When playing live shows, they like to throw in some cover songs by a variety of artists such as John Prine, the Sonics and the Monkees.
“Festivals are a great opportunity to expose yourself to an audience that might not ordinarily see you,” said Bernstein. “It’s an arts festival, so people are actually coming out to discover something new. We’re going to have a lot of fun!”
The Creative Arts & Music Festival will take place in Thompson Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 4, rain or shine. Admission is free and food vendors will be onsite. For more information, visit monmouthcountyparks.com.
Arts and entertainment reporter Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@tworivertimes.com.
