Smooth Sailing for the Blues and Jazz Festival

By Kelly Blithe, Director of Public Relations

Did anyone catch a performance from this year's New Jersey Blues and Jazz Festival?! Well, if you didn't, you missed out. The festival is the one time of year that we turn our venue inside out like nothing you have ever seen before. Everything is on stage, and I mean everything...the artist, the audience, the crew, the bar, the brooms, the lights...the works. It is all out there for everyone to see, plus you get an amazing view of the inside of the theater (the view of where you would normally sit). It's so up close and personal that sometimes it feels a little surreal and to top it off when setting up for the actual festival, the mood is so relaxed and laid back (like the shows) that setting up is effortless. Every year I anticipate something will go wrong and every year I am surprised to find out that the festival goes on without any crazy unexpected shenanigans (yeah I said shenanigans). So, if you missed it, then you missed an amazing time, but I guess there is always next year. Here are some great photos of Regina Carter's performance by photographer Mary A. Brown.